A group of Indigenous Peoples (IP) in Paquibato District stood their ground in protecting their rights of ownership to their ancestral domains, installing billboards with a message “Ancestral Domains are NOT FOR SALE.”
A ritual, led by Barangay Salapawan Tribal Chieftain Datu Amansing Sampiano, was held on September 6, 2021 at the local Ata tribe for the installation of billboards in Sitio Kiman-anaw, Barangay Salapawan, Paquibato District, Davao City.
The activity seeks to amplify their call to the public that the transfer and selling of portions or parcels of ancestral domains are prohibited under the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).
According to RA 8371, “The indigenous concept of ownership generally holds that ancestral domains are the ICC’s/IP’s [Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples] private but community property, which belongs to all generations and therefore cannot be sold, disposed (of) or destroyed.”
“The ritual symbolized the remembrance and respect to their ancestors who gave them their Ancestral Domains. The ritual also emphasized the respect and guidance of Manama for the success of the project. The chicken used symbolizes the purity, strength, and peace of the Ata Tribe,” a tribal statement said.
The project is also in line with the Peace 911 program of the city government. Aside from the peace and development programs to address the root causes of insurgency in Paquibato District, Peace 911 also aims to protect the rights of possession and ownership of tribal communities over the ancestral domain land to preserve their culture.
“The project is to install the Billboard to implement reminders in every Barangay who have an Ancestral Domain Land or Yutang Kabilin sa mga Ata Tribe, stating ANCESTRAL DOMAIN LAND IS NOT FOR SALE or BAWAL ANG MAGBALIGYA. BAWAL ANG MAGPALIT particularly in Paquibato District and Calinan District,” the statement added.
Earlier, the IPs collectively agreed to seek the support of Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte to promote awareness and recognition of, and respect for, their ancestral domain as enshrined under RA 8371.
“We sincerely thank our City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio [for her] response to our concern especially to protect our motherland. [We want to] respect and preserve our culture,” IPs Vice President Berino Mambo-o Sr. said.
In June, the Davao City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) expressed its support to the Ata Tribe in their call for the non-selling of the Ancestral Domains.
The CPDO said that the entire Ata tribe’s ancestral domain sprawls over an area of 65,796.87 hectares of land, with 56,506.03 hectares situated within the boundaries of Davao City.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of the IPRA, such as, but not limited to, unauthorized and/or unlawful intrusion upon any ancestral lands or domains, or shall commit any of the prohibited, shall be punished following the customary laws of the ICCs/IPs concerned.
The offender will be punished by imprisonment of not less than nine months but not more than 12 years or a fine of not less than P100,000 nor more than P500,000 or both such fine and imprisonment upon the discretion of the court. In addition, he/she shall be obliged to pay the ICCs/IPs concerned whatever damage may have been suffered by the latter as a consequence of the violation.CIO
