Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya—Elders of the Gaddang tribe here have been involved in recent talks with government and private agencies over proposed projects affecting their domain.
Jimmy Calata, one of the council of elders of the Nueva Vizcaya Gaddang Indigenous People’s Organization, said their organization held meetings early this year regarding the proposed P44 million Small Irrigation Project in this town by the National Irrigation Administration.
The project, now 50 percent completed, is expected to irrigate 236 hectares of rice land for 238 farmers.
The consultations were also facilitated by the officials of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.
“The meeting focused on the Free Prior and Informed Consent provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act since the project traverses three barangays within the tribe’s ancestral domain,” added Jimmy Calata of the Gaddang.
NVGIPO were also engaged with the drafting of the terms and conditions of a proposed Memorandum of Agreement with Macroasia Properties Development Corporation.
The MOA is required and needed for the proposed Magat River-based Waterworks System Project within the Gaddang ancestral domain in Solano town.
Calata said the following concerns were recognized such as the payment of royalty fees based on the tribe’s Community Royalty Development Plan, Corporate Social Responsibility projects for the environment, calamities and disasters, health and education, governance and culture and livelihood, among others.
NCIP Administrative Order # 3 Series of 2012 stipulates the strengthening of the Indigenous Cultural Communities’ exercise of their rights to ancestral domain, social justice, human rights, self-governance and empowerment, and cultural integrity.
It also gives utmost regard and promotes the right of ICCs/IPs to the management, development, use, and utilization of their land and resources within their own ancestral domain, among others.
