The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) expressed full support for the application of Indigenous Peoples communities in Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag (DiCaDi) for a certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT).
APECO president and chief executive Gil Taway said CADT is a crucial document that recognizes the ancestral land rights of these communities.
“Granting the Agtas a CADT provides formal recognition and empowers them to sustain their traditions while ensuring their rights are respected,” he said.
Taway said that while the decision rests with the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP), APECO’s new management wanted to highlight its commitment to both economic growth and equitable benefit sharing.
“Recognizing ancestral domains is fundamental for sustainable development. The CADT’s approval will benefit the Agtas and the broader region,” Taway said.
APECO is prepared to provide comprehensive assistance in navigating the complex CADT process and is committed to seeing the process through, he said.
Taway said the involvement of indigenous groups in the decision-making process is a pioneering strategy on how economic zones could collaborate with local communities to achieve mutual benefits. Othel V. Campos
