Atty Arthur Herman, legal affairs officer of NCIP explaining IPRA law on Ganak da iLicoy leaders in the simplest and most comprehensive manner with practical illustrations.
“Nu haan tayo maawatan, ayaban tayo ti NCIP nga tumulong kanya tayo” (whatever is not clear , we can call on NCIP to help us) Gregorio Danggalan“pangat” (title of a tribal leader) as he aims to encourage the Ganak da iLicoy tribe to come as one in their journey of applying for their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). Agki-kinnibin tayo, anya man iti problema, i-urnos tayo ta adda met ti panunut tayo” (Let us hold hands together, whatever problems that may come, we can fix it for we are of the same aspiration” he added. He also expressed his gratitude towards the guidance of Tebtebba, NCIP and Local Government Unit (LGU) in the dialogue held last February 15, 2023 in Casicallan, Poblacion, Paracelis Mt. Province
Ganak da iLicoy leaders and elders updated the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on their initiatives for their application for CADT, in partnership with Tebtebba and inquired pertinent questions on processes of preparation for their CADT application including formulation of their ancestral domain sustainable development and protection plan (ASDDPP), the issuance of leadership title or tribal membership, and the possibility of Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CALT). , legal affairs officer of NCIP and his colleagues from the NCIP Mountain Province Atty. Wilson Kalangeg, Juan Falinchao, Alexander Agrana and, Engr. Carlito Aiso discussed the fundamentals of Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and practical applications to the concerns of the Ganak da iLicoy regarding their plan to acquire CADT. NCIP encouraged the Ganak da Ilicoy tribe to prepare proof of ethnicity, an indicative map of their land including a resource inventory, settlement of conflict of boundaries between neighboring community, proof of ownership of the land and peace pacts, if any. The NCIP reiterated the importance of a clear understanding of IPRA and implications of the title to the iLicoy’s land status and management. The NCIP expressed appreciation of the community’s partnership with Tebtebba who has been assisting the Ganak on their research and documentations as “this kind of endeavor is one of the biggest challenges of the commission due to their meager budget.” Kreja Casiw, a researcher of Tebtebba and a Licoy native, presented the historical accounts of Licoy from pre-colonial Spanish period up to the present. NCIP was convinced and impressed by the thorough research output and advised the researchers to gather more information and if possible to trace back further to the pre-colonial Spanish era of Licoy people to bolster and support their claim for ethnic recognition. Zenaida Garambas, also from the Tebtebba research team, provided baseline data for the ethnic group “Ganak da iLicoy” and information on their settlement history, genealogy, and their indigenous governance system.
Ganak da ilicoy Leaders and elders actively participating on the IEC of NCIP on IPRA law, process for ethnic recognition, and CADT application process.
As part of the ways forward, adjacent tribes like Madukayan and Gad’ang and other concerned tribe will convene on March 18, 2023 to clarify whatever matters on their ancestral boundaries and to come as one. Further, coordination with Department of Natural and Resources (DENR) will be sought during the mapping resource inventory. The targeted date for the presentation of community profile by the Licoy tribe and leaders, with the assistance of Tebtebba, to NCIP will be on July 2023. This initiative is being funded by Swedbio through Tebtebba.