DAVAO CITY – Some 800 chosen indigenous peoples (IP) participants from various communities in Mindanao will gather in Tagum City on November 18-19 for the Mindanao-wide CADT (Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title) Holders Forum and IP Leaders Coalition Reflection Session.
In a Philippine Information Agency dispatch, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples XI regional director, Atty. Geroncio R. Aguio said they will look into the general situation of IPs in Mindanao particularly the incident of “IP killings and displacement from their ancestral domain”.
A briefing material regarding the event reveals that it specifically aims to identify and determine the root causes of issues and conflicts affecting the rights and lives of IPs in their respective ancestral domains; and to determine the necessary interventions of the government, the civil society, the private sector and other duty-bearers/stakeholders.
Among the other objectives are to discuss, assess and come up with action plans to ensure justice, peace and security in each ancestral domain; and to renew and strengthen the coalition and traditional cooperation among between and among tribes based on their history, peace pact, justice systems, conflict resolution institutions and peace-building processes.
Aside from IP leaders, invited to join the gathering are IP traditional leaders, Baylan, elderly, women, youth and the IP Mandatory Representatives in local legislative councils (IPMRs). They will also be joined by national and Mindanao regional officials of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Atty. Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo, NCIP chairperson and Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. Del Rosario, who will give his inspiration message, will also attend the event.(davaotoday.com)
