The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is seeking a joint management agreement with indigenous peoples (IPs) living within its jurisdiction, its top official said Monday.
“We want to include our beloved indigenous peoples in dialogue and management so that our programs are based on their needs and perspectives. We do not want anyone to be left behind in development,” said APECO president and chief executive Gil Taway IV.
Taway said the initiative would be modeled after the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) partnership with the Aeta community.
The agreement would cover the 12,242-hectare Parcel 2 of the ecozone, home to six indigenous settlements, and would position the area as a hub for jobs, eco-tourism and conservation. The deal would allow for shared decision-making on economic activities while protecting cultural traditions and the environment.
APECO said it is working with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to secure free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as part of its preparations for defining Parcel 2’s boundaries.
The agency, led by Taway, has been prioritizing consultations with IPs through quarterly meetings with chieftains.
It has also helped communities secure their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), with some pending since 2007. The NCIP approved the titles in December 2024.
Since the new management took over in October 2023, the number of IPs employed as “Bantay Gubat,” or forest rangers, has nearly tripled from 22 to 61.
APECO has also established an IP desk and lounge at its Casiguran headquarters and continues to roll out livelihood projects.
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