BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) - -  The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)  recently initiated the signing of a Peace Covenant among Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and government agencies of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces.

NCIP Chairman Allen Capuyan said the Peace Covenant encourages the various stakeholders such as IPs and government agencies in supporting the Healing, Reconciliation and Operationalizing the 11 Building Blocks in the Ancestral Domain in support of the Whole of Government/Nation Approach by empowering IPs and Former Rebels (FRs) in their communities.  

“This is a necessary step in pushing Ancestral Domain rights in IP communities which is first and foremost -  peace. This will bring in various development initiatives in our IP communities,” he said during the recent IP Congress.

He said the Peace Covenant also seeks to develop core communicators and support groups to advocate the importance and operationalize  the 11 Building Blocks and the Programs,  Projects and Activities (PPAs) and services of the government for the welfare of the IPs.

The 11 Building Blocks are confirmation of IPs, registration and accreditation of Indigenous people’s Organizations (IPOs), Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title/ Certificate of Ancestral Land Title delineation process, Establishment of Ancestral Domain Management Office, Ancestral  Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan formulation, Wealth Management - Community Resource Management Development Plan formulation, Institutionalization of Certification Precondition: Free and Prior Consent (FPIC) and Exercise of Priority Rights, Effective Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative in the Local Legislative Bodies, Efficient and Enhanced Memorandum of Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding/Memorandum of Contract formulation, Socio-Economic Activities with IP Cooperatives and Ancestral Domain Defense System.

Capuyan who attended the recent IP Congress at the Nueva Vizcaya Convention Center vowed to push the 11 Building Blocks for the welfare of IPs in the country. (OTB/BME/PIA NVizcaya)