DAR conducts dialogue with Mamanwa IP community on Project SPLIT
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — The Department of Agrarian Reform-Surigao del Norte Provincial Project Management Office (DAR-SDN PPMO) convened a landmark indigenous peoples (IP) Plan consultation with the Mamanwa community in Barangay Cagtinae, Malimono, Surigao del Norte.
Operating under the guidance of the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project as mandated by President Ferdinand ‘PBBM’ Marcos Jr., the multi-agency dialogue was designed to harmonise land titling fast-tracking with the protection of indigenous rights, cultural integrity, and ancestral domains.
The primary goal of the consultation was to establish a safeguard mechanism to ensure that Project SPLIT’s implementation remains deeply sensitive and responsive to the unique rights and welfare of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs).
While Project SPLIT aims to subdivide Collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CCLOAs) into individual land titles to give agrarian reform beneficiaries clear ownership, the IP Plan serves as a critical buffer. It ensures that lands overlapping with ancestral domains are treated with the appropriate legal and cultural protocols, strictly upholding the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Reflecting the complexity and importance of land governance in indigenous areas, the activity gathered a multi-sectoral representation of local government, environmental, and indigenous welfare agencies, such as the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in ensuring adherence to the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA); Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); DAR-Surigao del Norte; LGU Malimono and Barangay Council of Cagtinae; and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMR).
Regional Social Safeguards Division (SSD) and Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Regional Coordinator OIC-CARPO Annilyn Chan discussed the overview and importance of the IP Plan under Project SPLIT, emphasizing the meaningful participation of IP communities. “The IP Plan under Project SPLIT is not just a bureaucratic requirement – it is a mechanism to guarantee that indigenous communities are active drivers of the land titling process, rather than passive observers.”
Following the strategic overviews, Regional ESS Specialist Jelyn Acido spearheaded a practical orientation on the mandatory annex forms and meticulous documentation procedures required by the World Bank-funded project.
To bridge the gap between policy and execution, DAR-SDN personnel collaborated with the Mamanwa participants, providing hands-on assistance to accomplish the paperwork. This consultation established a solid foundation for inter-agency coordination and grassroots participation. By involving the Mamanwa tribe from the outsett, DAR-SDN ensures the acceleration of individual land titles. It acts as a tool for economic empowerment without compromising the cultural heritage and territorial security of Surigao del Norte’s first peoples.
In his message, Datu Rannie expressed hope and welcomed the noble intentions of Project SPLIT.
He said, “We understand that providing individual land titles is a step toward economic empowerment, security, and progress for many Filipino farmers. We recognize the hard work DAR has put into bridging the gaps in land ownership across the country.”
Moving forward, the documented insights and accomplished data from this session will directly shape the localised IP Plan, serving as a blueprint for future parcelization activities across indigenous lands in the Caraga region. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte)
