BUTUAN CITY – With the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) already claiming strategic victory against the war against the communist insurgency, the Army’s 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion (29th IB) and Indigenous People (IP) leaders in Caraga region inked an agreement on Friday, April 12, that will extend a more comprehensive program in peace and development in their highland communities during a ceremony held at the 29th IB Headquarters in Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte province.
The 29th IB solidified its partnership with the IP of CADT 092 by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Deed of Grant of Usufructuary Rights (DGUR) that grants access to their ancestral domain for the planning of peace and development in the area.
The MOA and DGUR also grants construction, operation and maintenance of their project and related activities to the 29th IB, including the establishment of camps and detachments within the ancestral domain areas of CADT 092.
The ceremony was the first-ever formal signing of a Deed of Grant of Usufructuary Rights that was conducted between the AFP and CADT leaders in the Caraga region, which covers the areas of Cabadbaran City, and the towns of Santiago, and Tubay, all in Agusan del Norte, and neighboring areas.
The MOA and DGUR signing was also attended by officials of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), led by Regional Director Ordonio P. Rocero, Jr., and Engr. Cierona Molaan-Cutar, provincial director of NCIP Agusan del Norte.
The agreement marks a commitment to acknowledge and respect the ancestral rights of the Indigenous People of CADT 092 over their traditional lands.
Government troops pledged to ensure the security and protection of the Indigenous People of CADT 092 against threats or encroachments on their territory.
Lt. Col. Cresencio C. Gargar, commanding officer of the 29th IB said the partnership also aims to empower the indigenous community through capacity-building programs and socio-economic initiatives, enabling them to actively engage in decisions affecting their ancestral domain.
“The 29th IB is grateful for the cooperation among all parties involved in this agreement, this agreement underscores the significance of preserving the cultural heritage and ancestral domain rights of Indigenous communities, honoring their deep-rooted connection to the land and resources, and promoting their identity and continuity,” the 29th IB commander added.