NCIP CARAGA CONDUCTS COMMUNITY VISIT TO LORETO TOWN’S ICCS/IPS

The Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) of Loreto, Agusan del Sur was the third area visited by Atty. Marlon Bosantog, regional director of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Caraga, along with Atty. Leslie Mae F. Plaza, Attorney VI/Acting Technical Management Services Division Chief; Rosemarie Mordeno, Agusan del Sur Provincial Officer; and select NCIP Caraga personnel.

During this session, a mini legal caravan was conducted wherein the IP leaders were able to voice out their issues and concerns, and were provided with free legal consultation.

Issues that were raised include the ongoing direct Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title application (CADT) of the Manobo ICCs/ IPs which covers almost the entirety of Loreto, Agusan del Sur excluding Barangays Katipunan and Poblacion, issues on land selling within Ancestral Domains, and the recognition and implementation of tribal justice. The team directly addressed these concerns, as well as updates on the current stage of their CADT application. The ICCs/IPs were also advised to file a formal letter complaint on issues relating to land selling as basis in the conduct of validation and investigation, the tribal leaders were reminded of the scope of implementation of the tribal justice and the customary laws related therein.

“The NCIP will continue to provide your welfare and promote your rights. Let us know your issues and concerns and we will address, give resolutions to it the best we can,” cited Dir. Bosantog.

With this, NCIP Caraga hopes to visit more IP communities and extend government services therein. (NCIP-Caraga/ PIA-Agusan del Sur)