Ang Pahayagan

AURORA — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is planning to enter into a joint management agreement (JMA) with indigenous peoples (IPs) within its jurisdiction, President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV announced in a radio interview on Sunday.

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, which is home to six indigenous settlements. APECO envisions Parcel 2 as a hub for employment, eco-tourism, and environmental conservation.

The proposed JMA will promote shared decision-making between APECO and the IP communities, ensuring that economic activities align with 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 said.

APECO is working with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to secure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and 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 assumed 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.

APECO said the planned JMA underscores its commitment to inclusive growth by integrating indigenous peoples into sustainable development programs. (Jason de Asis)

📸: APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV in one of the quarterly consultations with indigenous people chieftains in October 2024 at APECO Corporate Campus, Brgy. Esteves, Casiguran, Aurora. APECO takes pride in strengthening ties with indigenous communities through dialogue and inclusive programs.