Aetas in Pampanga rue illegal occupation of ancestral lands
FLORIDABLANCA, PAMPANGA—Aeta leaders in Barangay Nabuclod in this town have raised concerns over widespread encroachment on their ancestral lands spanning 5,547.102 hectares, covered by certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT) FLO-1206-057-A.
Village chief Roman Alvaro and local councilmen reported at least 13 individuals—described as non-Aetas—illegally occupying or cultivating areas ranging from 3 to 10 hectares. The encroachments are located near the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the proposed Subic-Clark cargo railway.
The issue came to light during the launch of a poverty reduction program attended by national and local officials.
Gov. Lilia Pineda instructed Floridablanca Mayor Michael Galang to secure the copy of the CADT and call the supposed encroachers to a probe by the local legislative council before raising the matter to the provincial legislative body.
The complaints of the Aetas were being validated, according to lawyer Roman Antonio, the newly appointed director of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples in Central Luzon, in a phone interview.
Agroforestry
Should the lands be titled properties before 1997, Antonio said Section 56 of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, or Republic Act No. 8371, states that indigenous communities should recognize and respect these.
In Friday’s poverty reduction program launch, Aeta leaders agreed to undertake an integrated agro-forestry program by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Pampanga provincial government.
The agencies would give agricultural support through seeds, seedlings and tools in farm plots within 8 ha inside the Floridablanca National Agricultural School. Bamboo planting and training for making bamboo byproducts as well as protection of ancestral domains are among the measures in Barangay Nabuclod.
Bamboo products
Pineda said the comprehensive antipoverty program also mitigates climate change because the bamboo forest in Nabuclod, which the governor started in 2012, has nursed 108,872 clumps in 536 ha.
In a statement, she said she ordered a stop to the selling of bamboo poles because these fetch only P20 a piece.
She urged Aeta villagers to reserve these for drying to be made into bamboo chairs and desks that the provincial government will buy for some 12,000 day care schoolers in Pampanga.
“Nabuclod is an asset because its bamboo forest has grown. We will be training the Aetas in making bamboo byproducts while we supply raw bamboo to furniture makers in Pampanga, Laguna and Cebu,” the governor added.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured food support while the Aetas grow cash crops and make bamboo products.
Gatchalian also distributed planting tools, fruit and vegetable seedlings and fertilizers to the villagers. A total of 1,393 Aeta families received food packs.
“We have to combine immediate assistance with agricultural support and livelihood training so that poverty reduction is more effective,” said the governor.
