PEZA, NCIP eye development of ancestral lands into ecozones

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PEZA, NCIP eye development of ancestral lands into ecozones
Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Charito Plaza (third from left) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Chairman Allen Capuyan (fourth from left) have signed the memorandum of agreement with Deputy Director General Atty. Norma Tañag, Deputy Director General Tereso Panga, and NCIP Executive Director Rogelio Bantayan Jr. standing as witnesses. Photo from PEZA.
  • PEZA and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples agree to cooperate in developing ancestral domains and lands into economic zones
  • Multiplier effects of PEZA ecozones intended to drive economic growth of indigenous peoples
  • PEZA and NCIP’s MOA seeks countryside ecozone development that complies with the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 and Free, Prior and Informed Consent process

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are eyeing the development of ancestral lands into ecozones.

Under a a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed on June 3, PEZA Director General Charito Plaza and NCIP Chairman Allen Capuyan forged a partnership to strengthen cooperation in identifying, creating, developing, implementing and operating ancestral domains/lands as special ecozones for the greater good of indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) and indigenous peoples (IPs).

PEZA said in a statement that the MOA is pursuant to the goals of Administrative Order No. 18, which pushes ecozone development in the countryside, and in compliance with the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 and the Free, Prior and Informed Consent process.

“The development of ancestral domains as a special economic zone will not just give a positive look to the socio-economic aspect of the communities but also increase the basic services as well as [provide ICCs and IPs] sufficient food, education, health, environmental protection, justice, human rights, security, and good governance,” Capuyan said.

Plaza said PEZA aims to replicate the multiplier effects that PEZA ecozones have created in the regions “because we believe that ecozones will serve as economic drivers among ICCs/IPs.”

Plaza noted that IPs for decades “have become victims of exploitation with the utilization of their ancestral domains and lands by some unscrupulous entities without just and fair compensation or due regard to their traditional territorial and resource rights.”

Plaza said PEZA gives utmost respect to IP rights on their ancestral lands and the authorities “[will] respect compliance [with] IPRA law and social justice when ancestral lands will be tapped for ecozone development.”

She noted that investment promotion agencies such as PEZA must provide just compensation to IP communities when their lands are affected by ecozone developments, “more so, they should be partners in economic endeavors in their ancestral lands.”

“We should empower and capacitate all sectors of the country, most especially the so-called marginalized like the IPs, to participate in an inclusive economy so we can bring out the best of our country’s potentials and vibrant economy,” Plaza said.

Capuyan, meanwhile, said: “It is my fervent prayer that this will bring the socio-economic development in the ancestral domain to greater heights and realize the aspiration and dreams of the ICCs/IPs for a better future.”

The partnership is in line with PEZA’s Transformation Road Map, which seeks to address the lacking efficiency factors that investors are looking for and to create different types of economic zones according to the land potentials present in the area.

PEZA also earlier signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to identify viable public lands that can become agro-industrial, agro-forestry, mineral processing, and eco-tourism economic zones.