APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said the deal will focus on the 12,242-hectare Parcel 2 of the ecozone, home to six indigenous settlements. The plan aims to make Parcel 2 a hub for jobs, eco-tourism, and conservation.
“Gusto nating isali ang ating mga mahal na katutubo sa dialogue at management, para ang mga programa natin ay nakabatay sa kanilang pangangailangan at pananaw. Hindi natin gustong may maiiwan sa pag-unlad,” Taway said in a radio interview with DZBB on Sunday.
(“We want to include our beloved indigenous peoples in dialogue and management so that our programs are based on their needs and perspectives. We do not want anyone to be left behind in development.”)
The JMA will allow shared decision-making on economic activities while safeguarding cultural traditions and protecting the environment.
APECO is working with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to secure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and finalize Parcel 2’s boundaries.
Under Taway’s leadership since October 2023, the agency has held quarterly consultations with IP chieftains, helped communities secure their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) — some pending since 2007 — and nearly tripled the number of employed IP forest rangers from 22 to 61.
Other initiatives include establishing an IP Desk and Lounge at APECO’s headquarters in Casiguran, offering livelihood training, and providing free use of venues for IP events.
“This approach ensures that development in APECO uplifts communities without leaving anyone behind,” Taway said. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
