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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Native Ati people barred anew from Boracay land

Native Ati people barred anew from Boracay land

Published Feb 18, 2026 03:25 pm
A GUARD bans the native Ati people from entering a land that was previously given to them by the national government. (BATO)
A GUARD bans the native Ati people from entering a land that was previously given to them by the national government. (BATO)
ILOILO CITY – The native Ati people were once again barred from entering an area where they live at world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province.
In a Feb. 16 Facebook post, the Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO) revealed a new barricade was installed and guards were deployed by a private developer to ban them from entering a land previously awarded to them by the national government and where they have their homes.
“Ang pangyayari na ito ay patuloy na paglapastangan sa aming karapatan at sa tingin namin ay hindi nasusunod ang ‘rule of law’ (This incident continues to violate our rights and we believe that the ‘rule of law’ is not being followed),” wrote BATO.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) awarded Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to members of BATO in 2018. This was part of the priority of then President Rodrigo Duterte in rehabilitating the country’s most famous beach destination while assuring the Ati IPs they have their own land to farm and live.
The CLOAs were revoked by the Marcos administration in a Jan. 29, 2024 order after soil analysis found that Boracay’s soil is not suitable for farming.
Signed by DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, it ordered the eviction of the Ati IPs and favored the protest filed by a private land owner.
A tarpaulin with the reprinted Jan. 29, 2024 DAR order – with a notation that it is a certified true copy dated Jan. 7, 2026 – is seen hanging in the security fence.
In April 2024, Estrella assured DAR that it would find land for the Ati IPs. But this has yet to be implemented and BATO is still appealing the CLOA revocation by DAR.
Angat Kalikasan, a non-government organization (NGO) for nature and the IPs, condemned the latest action by the private land owner against the Ati IPs.
Angat Kalikasan urged DAR to act and give access to the Ati IPs who have physical homes inside the disputed property.

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