Governor Abet Garcia to ink MOA with NCIP

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently approved Resolution No.370, authorizing the Provincial Governor, Governor Abet Garcia to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and various NGO’s on the funding and implementation of the issuance of the certificate of ancestral domain title for the Aeta communities in the province of Bataan.

According to Board Member Danilo Salonga, Provincial IPMR, Bataan is home to some 11 tribal communities scattered in its 11 municipalities and the lone City of Balanga, that the NCIP has already submitted the proposed budget for the delineation and titling of the remaining ancestral lands and domain in Bataan amounting to five million nine hundred fifty eight thousand eight hundred forty eight pesos (P5, 958, 848.00).

To show its unwavering commitment to support and promote the welfare of the indigenous people thru R.A. no. 8371 known as the Indigenous Peoples Right Act of 1997, the rights of the indigenous people to their ancestral domain shall be recognized and respected. The NCIP has committed itself to undertake the implementation of the  project from social preparation up to registration and awarding of the corresponding Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT’s) in accordance to the approved work and financial plan.

Grouped under 4 locations comprising a total area of twenty one thousand hectares (21,000) are the remaining areas in the province that needed to be surveyed, delineated and titled, of which Annex A is composed of Sitio Parapal, Brgy. Mabiga, Brgy. Bamban, Hermosa; Pag-asa, Orani with an estimated area of 3,500 hectares; while Annex B is composed of Brgy. Bangkal, Abucay; Palili, Samal and Brgy. Dangcol, Balanga City, covering an area of 4,500 hectares. Annex C is composed of Tub-Tubo, Payangan and Bayan-Bayanan, Dinalupihan covering an area of 7,500 hectares and Annex D is composed of  Brgy. Banawang, Bagac covering an estimated area of 5,500 hectares.

Considering the importance of this development, Governor Abet Garcia requested the body to pass an urgent resolution for the MOA with NCIP on the funding and implementation of the processing and issuance of CADTs for the Aeta communities in the province of Bataan.