In celebration of World Wildlife Day 2025, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) signed partnerships that will safeguard the role of Indigenous Peoples in environmental stewardship today, 3 March 2025, at the Luxent Hotel, Quezon City.

Together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the NCIP signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Implementation of an Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Project while NCIP Region III signed another MOA with entrepreneurs and the MAO-CADT.

Representing the NCIP, Chairperson Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las sealed the partnership with DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga through DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Undersecretary for Legal and Administration Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo Jr., with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran through UNDP Climate Action Progamme Team Leader Floradema Eleazar.

These partnerships will ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing mechanisms; Uphold the principles of Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and the Indigenous Knowledge, Systems, and Practices (IKSP) ensuring that Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) are fully consulted, involved, and empowered in decision-making; Safeguard Indigenous knowledge and genetic resources from exploitation, misappropriation, and unsustainable use; and promote fair, equitable, and reasonable sharing of benefits, reinforcing the economic and cultural rights of the ICCs/IPs.

Appropriate monitoring will be executed by NCIP and DENR to ensure that ICCs/IPs Rights are recognized, respected, protected, and promoted at all levels of project implementation.