Gov’t troops strengthen partnership with tribal communities in Agusan Norte
The Deed of Grant of Usufructuary Rights granted access to their ancestral
domain for the planning, development, construction, operation and maintenance
of the project and related activities of the 29IB including the establishment
of camps and detachments within the ancestral domain areas of CADT 092, hereby
granting their free and voluntary consent to the project.
The ceremony is the first ever formal signing of the Deed of grant of Usufructuary Rights conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and CADT leaders within Caraga, which covered the areas of Cabadbaran City, Santiago, and Tubay. It was attended by Dir. Ordonio P. Rocero Jr. from National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Caraga, and Engr. Cierona Molaan-Cutar, provincial director of NCIP in Agusan del Norte. The agreement marked a commitment to acknowledge and respect the ancestral rights of the (IPs) of CADT 092 over their traditional lands.
Government troops have pledged to ensure the security and protection of the (IPs) of CADT 092 against threats or encroachments on their territory. Additionally, the partnership 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.
Lt.Col. Cresencio C. Gargar, commanding officer of 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) said, “The 29IB is grateful for the cooperation among all parties involved in this agreement that underscored 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.” (29th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
