NCIP seeks more protection for IP communities in Tagkawayan and Camarines Norte

By Nimfa Estrellado January 25, 2023 Tagkawayan Mayor Carlo Eleazar (5th from left) during a consultative meeting with with Atty. Josefina A...

By Nimfa Estrellado
January 25, 2023

Tagkawayan Mayor Carlo Eleazar (5th from left) during a consultative meeting with with Atty. Josefina Agusti Regional Hearing Officer, NCIP, Lt. Col. Joel Jonson, Battalion Commander of the 85th IB, PMAJ Jun Villarosa ACOP, Tagkawayan MPS, Maribel Rosana, MENRO Tagwawayan, Carl Edgar Cusi, MLGOO, Rhea Rodriguez, IP Focal Point Person, Capt. Rogelio Esmas-Mapulot, Capt. Romeo Villafuerte- Santo Tomas and other NCIP staff.

TAGKAWAYAN, Quezon - Tagkawayan Mayor Carlo Eleazar took part in the consultative meeting on Tuesday, January 24, of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Region IV-A led by Regional Director Dr. Carlos P. Buasen, Jr. and NCIP Bicol led by Vivian Tañamor.

The meeting focuses on the initiation of the process of Delineation and Recognition of Ancestral Domains of the native "Manide" in the part of Labo Camarines, Norte, and Tagkawayan, Quezon particularly in Barangay Mapulot, Santo Tomas, and Casispalan.



Approximately 300 hectares of land in Camarines Norte and Tagkawayan have been identified as being subject to the NCIP process, in which the fulfillment of the provisions of the constitution is being thoroughly studied in order to protect the rights of the indigenous people; cultural community in their inherited land in order to ensure their economic, social, and heritage, according to NCIP.

The territorial boundary is a primary consideration because of the left-wing regions that cover the lands inhabited by indigenous manide groups.



Under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8371 of 1997), shall recognize and advocate for the rights of indigenous cultural communities (ICC) and IPs in the Philippines.

The enactment of IPRA made the Philippines the first country in Asia to recognize the plight of IPs in the country through legislation that recognized their marginalization in the country.



The Supreme Court ruled in 1909 that indigenous peoples have the right to land.

According to the court, long occupancy of a parcel of land by an indigenous person is considered private ownership, which is legally referred to as "native title."

The IPRA defines native title as pre-conquest rights to lands and domains that, as far back as memory goes, have been held under a claim of private ownership by ICCs/IPs, have never been public lands, and are thus indisputably presumed to have been held that way since before the Spanish Conquest.