Aurora: The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) plans to enter into a joint management agreement (JMA) with indigenous peoples (IPs) within its jurisdiction, President and Chief Executive Officer Gil G. Taway IV revealed in a radio interview on Sunday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative, patterned after the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority's (SBMA) partnership with the Aeta community, will focus on the 12,242-hectare Parcel 2 of the ecozone. Parcel 2, home to six indigenous settlements, is envisioned by APECO as a hub for employment, ecotourism, and environmental conservation.
The proposed JMA will promote shared decision-making between APECO and the IP communities, ensuring that economic activities align with their cultural traditions and environmental preservation. "We want to include our indigenous brothers and sisters in the dialogue and management process so that our programs are based on their needs and perspectives. We don't want anyone to be left behind in development," Taway stated.
APECO is working with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to secure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and to define the boundaries of Parcel 2. The agency has been holding quarterly consultations with tribal chieftains and has assisted IP communities in securing their long-delayed Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), which were approved by the NCIP in December 2024 after pending since 2007.
Since the new leadership took office in October 2023, the number of IPs employed as Bantay Gubat or forest rangers has nearly tripled from 22 to 61. Other initiatives to empower IP communities include establishing an IP Desk and Lounge at the APECO headquarters, offering livelihood training, and providing free use of facilities for cultural events.