UPDATE ON TKPI RESPONSE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGION IVB REGARDING SECTION 59 OF IPRA

04 February 2022

Ten Knots Philippines, Inc. (TKPI) is a member of the Ten Knots Group currently owned by Ayala Land Inc. which is engaged in tourism and real estate activities in El Nido, Palawan. The Ancestral Domain (AD) involved, which is more or less 200,000 hectares including ancestral waters, is composed of 11 Barangays of El Nido Palawan namely Barangays Villa Libertad, Pasadeña, Teneguiban, Bucana, New Ibajay, Sibaltan, San Fernando, Barotuan, Mabini, Manlag, and Villa Paz with Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) Petition No. R04-PAL-0132-AD. Remedios Cabral and six (6) other members of the Tagbanua Tandulanen Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs), are the representatives from the said CADT.

In view hereof, NCIP Palawan Provincial Officer (PPO) Atty. Jansen I. Jontila wrote a letter to Atty. Salvador L. Peña of Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz (ACCRA) Law Offices, the Counsel for TKPI, dated 31 January 2022 in relation to TKPI’s compliance with the conduct of Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) as provided for in Section 59 of Republic Act No. 8371 also known as the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA).

ACCRA responded through their lawyers in a letter dated 03 February 2022 that immediately upon receipt of the 31 January letter via electronic mail on 02 February 2022, Atty. Christopher Louie D. Ocampo called NCIP PPO and mentioned that TKPI is committed to whatever lawful processes the NCIP may deem necessary, including the processes provided in Section 59 of IPRA.

In any event, ACCRA confirmed during the phone call that TKPI was requested to secure the necessary forms and checklist from NCIP PPO so that the processes under Section 59 of IPRA may commence. TKPI’s Authorized Representative will secure the said documents from PPO. TKPI is looking forward for the continued guidance of NCIP MIMAROPA and PPO so that the FPIC process can commence and proceed with dispatch.