The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), in collaboration with the Center for Conservation Innovations Philippines (CCIPH), conducted benchmarking visits to the ancestral domains of Iraya and Alangan Cultural Communities in Oriental Mindoro last 4-7 February 2025.
This collaborative effort aimed to explore and learn from successful Indigenous Peoples-led conservation initiatives, to be shared and replicated in other ancestral domains. The delegation started by proceeding to Sitio Bituin, guided by the CCIPH and IP community members. Upon arrival, the Alangan Mangyan IPs warmly welcomed the NCIP delegation by offering coconut juice and local root crops.
The Alangan Mangyan community also proudly shared that 29 of their members have been trained and capacitated on restoration practices, including the establishment of native plant nurseries, seed and wildling collection, and plant material propagation.
Additionally, a special Commission En Banc session was held in the community, giving way to a historic deliberation of their CRADC Application (CADC 124 Conversion to CADT of Alangan ICCs) inside their ancestral domain. After careful review and evaluation of the documents presented, the 9th Commission unanimously agreed and approved the CRADC application, further moving for the CADT application.
Afterwards, the team descended and traveled to the Municipality of San Teodoro to visit the Mal-Anggatan Iraya Paranawan Kakuyayan (MIPK) Office where they met local project focal persons and toured the Ancestral Domains Management Office (ADMO). The visit was done to introduce CCIPH’s project in the community, assess the effectiveness of sustainable development and conservation initiatives, identify challenges faced by the Iraya Mangyan Tribe, and train additional forest patrollers in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.
The team finally moved to Puerto Galera to examine additional CCIPH project sites, including Barangays Villaflor and Aninuan where they engaged in meaningful discussions with community leaders about ongoing conservation projects, as well as the challenges they face, such as threats posed by land intruders on their sacred lands.
The NCIP is committed to replicating the successful conservation initiatives witnessed, extending support to other regional offices. NCIP and CCIPH aim to enhance conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation efforts for ancestral lands, fostering livelihood opportunities for the ICCs/IPs across the country.
NCIP Chairperson Jennifer Pia T. Sibug-Las led the visit. Joining her were Commissioner Jeorge M. Largado, Ethnographic Commissioner for Island Groups and Rest of Visayas, and other esteemed NCIP Ethnographic Commissioners, as well as representatives from the Office on Socio-Economic Services and Special Concerns (OSESSC), Ancestral Domains Office (ADO), NCIP Region 4B (MIMAROPA), and NCIP-Oriental Mindoro.
Together, we are constructing a path towards empowering Indigenous Peoples, preserving their rich heritage, and promoting sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the communities.
