DAVAO CITY (PIA) — The National Commission on Indigenous People in Davao Occidental has continued monitoring projects in areas covered by the ancestral domain, even from government agencies, to ensure proper implementation that will not violate the rights and welfare of the indigenous communities.
The agency actively engages in field validation, like the recent projects of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao Occidental, covering the ancestral domain of Blaan and Manobo indigenous cultural communities/IPs located in Jose Abad Santos.
Among the proposed activities of DENR include the cave assessment of Alabanan Cave in Barangay Meybio, Kikoda Cave in Barangay Carahayan, and the Population and Habitat Monitoring and Protection of flying fox in Barangay Barrio Bukid.
DENR also proposed the Enhanced National Greening Program—Plantation Establishment and Protection and Maintenance, the Inventory of Structures within Forestland and the Conduct of Lawin Patrolling within Forest Conservation Areas in the three barangays.
After a series of presentations, open discussions, and consensus building in conformity with their customary practices, the IP communities through their Councils of Elders and Leaders permitted the implementation of the proposed projects.
They will approve a resolution of consent to this effect.
The NCIP Davao Occidental explained that as required by existing rules and regulations, any government projects for the delivery of basic services involving indigenous communities, shall be subjected to field-based validation/assessment. (CLC/PIA Davao/NCIP Davao Occidental)
