The indigenous Aeta groups Ayta Mag-Indi and Ayta Mag-Antsi in Pampanga on May 31, have formally received their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT) with a total land area of 18,660 hectares.
The IP groups have waited 13 years for the title to be listed at the Registry of Deeds, as the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) En Banc had approved the CADT application on July 23, 2009.
CADT is a certificate that lawfully recognizes the rights of possession and ownership of Indigenous Cultural Communities/IPs over their ancestral lands.
The awarded land covers areas in the municipalities of Porac, San Marcelino, and Bamban, and Angeles City in Pampanga province, and Zambales province.
The awarding ceremony in Porac was facilitated by the NCIP-Region 3 (Central Luzon), municipal government of Porac, and provincial government of Pampanga.
It was attended by NCIP-Central Luzon Regional Director Roland P. Calde, NCIP-Luzon and Central Luzon Commissioner Rhodex P. Valenciano, and NCIP-Cagayan Valley Commissioner Simplicia Hagada.
Others who also witnessed the awarding ceremony were NCIP-Ancestral Domain Office Bureau Director Caesar Ortega, Porac Mayor Jaime Capil, Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also witnessed the awarding ceremony.
The certificate was received by IPs Structure chairman Benny Capuno, IPs Organization chairman Roman King, and IPs Mandatory Representative Edwin Abuque. (Luisa Cabato)