Coconut, IP bodies boost ancestral lands

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are working together to boost coconut farming in ancestral areas.

In a statement, the PCA said they have signed a memorandum of agreement to establish a framework for empowering indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs) engaged in coconut farming.

“For centuries, our indigenous peoples have been the silent guardians of our lands. With this MOA, we ensure that our ICCs/IPs are no longer at the margins of progress but at its very heart,” PCA administrator Dexter Buted said.

Both parties will implement socio-economic programs, livelihood projects and support mechanisms to improve the livelihood and well-being of indigenous coconut farmers and improve their productivity.

“The agreement solidifies the commitment of both institutions to ensure that indigenous coconut farmers are integrated into national agricultural programs and benefit directly from coconut industry development initiatives,” the PCA said.

See Also

‘No matter the faith’: East Ukraine marks Epiphany despite war divide

The PCA will help the NCIP identify ancestral lands with existing coconut plantations, register IP coconut farmers in the National Coconut Farmers Registry System and facilitate their participation in different PCA programs.

For its part, the NCIP will expedite the processing of the free, prior and informed consent (FCIP), a document stating IPs’ consent for any activities or projects undertaken on their land as well as identify ancestral domains and assist in the registration of IP farmers.