Baguio council backs Ibaloy opposition to ancestral land bill
BAGUIO CITY—The city council has backed the Ibaloy community’s opposition to House Bill (HB) No. 621, which seeks to transfer authority over ancestral land titles and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)-related processes from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In a unanimous vote on May 4, the council adopted a position paper endorsed by Councilor Maximo Edwin, the city’s IPs mandatory representative. The bill would allow DENR to issue Certificates of Ancestral Land Title, Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title and Certification Precondition documents required for projects within ancestral domains.
Edwin said the proposal raises concerns over conflicts of interest, particularly since DENR also oversees agencies linked to mining and resource extraction.
‘Weaken protections’
He added that while FPIC requirements have been criticized for delaying projects, placing ancestral land administration under DENR could “weaken indigenous peoples’ rights and protections.”
Sponsored by Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, HB No. 621 proposes a new “Ancestral Lands Administration and Adjudication Process” and seeks to amend provisions of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997.
The Ibaloy community formally rejected the measure during this year’s Ibaloy Day celebration in February.
The council resolution was forwarded to Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan, chair of the committee on indigenous cultural communities and IPs.
