The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) conducted Inter-agency visit to the Ayta Magbukun ICCs/IPs in Sitio Binaritan, Brgy Kanawan, Morong, Bataan this Monday, January 31, 2022.
The said activity was graced by the Chairperson of NCIP and at the same time the Executive Director of National Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
The visit was initiated to gain first-hand information about the burning issues of the ICCs/IPs within CADT RO3-MOR-0618-224 specifically their problems on the following projects that were established without undergoing FPIC process:
1. Zoobic Zafari – Tourism generating project w/o FPIC;
2. Ocean Adventure – Tourism generating project utilizing the Ancestral waters w/o FPIC;
3. Water Bulk project – The source of water originates from the Ancestral Domain w/o FPIC;
4. Headquarters of Philippine Marines and SAF Headquarters were established and operating within the AD of Ayta Magbukun w/o FPIC;
Present during the said event were IP Leaders and Elders, Provincial and Municipal IPMRs, Commissioner Roland Rivera, NCIP Ethnographic commissioner of Region 3, R4A & R5; Dir. Reynaldo A Dingal, NCIP Director of OEHR, Dir Rosanna L Lingating, NCIP OIC-Director of Office for Administrative Service, Mr. Pascual Patting Jr of OEHR, Mr. Randy Bernales, NCIP R3 Bataan Provincial Officer, Ms. Juna Sacpa, NCIP R3 TMSD Chief, Jones C Binwag, Dinalupihan CSC Head, and representatives from 70IB, PA, Philippine National Police Bataan and Special Action Force (SAF);
The chairperson stated that the visit aimed to hear their issues and concerns and to show to the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) that the NCIP as the main agency that caters to the needs of IPs, wanted to deepen their understanding of ICCs/IPs about their rights in relation to their burning issues, as stated in the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act or RA 8371 which aims to “Recognize, Protect and Promote the Rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples.”
The chairperson further urged the Ayta Magbukun community to be united and act as one so that they will have a formidable foundation in facing the challenges and be resilient against the threats and exploitation. In addition, the chairperson also articulated the 11 Building Blocks of a resilient IP community.
As the program ends, the tribal leaders expressed their heartfelt thanks for giving importance to their community. They said that the significant event will bring new hope to their people who have been deprived of a peaceful and progressive community.
