Subanen tribe in Zamboanga del Sur gets ancestral domain title
PAGADIAN CITY—After two decades of struggle, the Subanen tribe in Bayog town, Zamboanga del Sur, finally received their certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT) covering 25,549 hectares, a milestone hailed by tribal leaders as a victory for indigenous peoples’ rights.
Gukom Lucenio Manda, tribal chieftain and head claimant of the Bayog ancestral domain, confirmed on Tuesday the approval of the CADT, which formalizes the tribe’s ownership and stewardship of their ancestral lands.
Manda said the tribe initially applied for around 30,000 hectares, but the final survey placed the coverage at 25,549 hectares due to overlapping claims with neighboring ancestral domains in Lakewood (Zamboanga del Sur), Diplahan and Buug (Zamboanga Sibugay), and Siayan (Zamboanga del Norte).
“We already crafted a Joint Management Agreement on these portions since those were already titled. What matters is that we belong to the same Subanen tribe, so development management is not an issue,” he told the Inquirer.
Manda also expressed gratitude for the long-awaited approval.
“I am deeply grateful as a leader because I know this will greatly help, especially in protecting our rights as indigenous peoples in Bayog,” he said, thanking government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, the military, the police and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
The tribe formally applied for the CADT on January 6, 2006, but Manda recalled that their parents and ancestors had long fought for recognition.
“We went through many challenges, and many people helped us. This is not our success alone—it is the success of everyone who wanted to help improve the lives of the Subanen people,” he said.
Manda acknowledged the sacrifices made along the way, including lives lost in the struggle.
“Bayog has many resources, and different groups enter the area. Even with these trials, we realized we cannot stop—because if we stop, who will continue? We also cannot surrender because this is our right, and we must stand for it until the next generations,” he added.
Development plan
Manda said the next step is to implement the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP), a 50-year master plan prioritizing community needs.
Among the programs identified are reforestation and tree-planting activities within the domain to ensure the land remains productive. “It would be useless to hold a title if our lands remain idle,” he said.
Manda also noted the importance of prioritizing education, stressing the need to prepare the youth for future leadership.
He added that peace and order are also essential, noting that the tribe now actively supports security efforts, recognizing that peace must precede development.
According to Manda, the ADSDPP was crafted holistically, not only for Subanens but also for other groups living in Bayog, including Ilocanos, Ilonggos, Warays and other indigenous communities.
“No one will be discriminated against, unlike in the past when Subanens were discriminated against,” he said.
Manda also acknowledged the role of TVI Resource Development Phils., Inc., operator of the Balabag Gold-Silver Project in Barangay Depore, Bayog.
He said the tribe used royalty payments from the mining firm to fund the CADT application and land titling process.
“We were not given a budget by the NCIP, so we used funds from royalty payments. This was agreed upon long ago by the indigenous peoples structure,” Manda shared.
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