DAVAO CITY — To strengthen the peacebuilding in the communities in Agusan del Sur, the 29th Infantry Battalion (Matatag) has solidified its partnership with the Indigenous People of CADT 092 by signing a Memorandum of Agreement and Deed of Grant of Usufructuary Rights on April 12, 2024.
The Moa signing was held at the 29th Infantry Battalion Headquarters in Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
The agreement grants the Army 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.
The document stated that the IP communities inside CADT 092 “Grant their free and voluntary consent to the Project.”
The agreement was a commitment to acknowledge and respect the ancestral rights of the Indigenous Peoples in the area over their traditional lands.
The ceremony marked the first-ever formal signing of the Deed of Grant of Usufructuary Rights between the AFP and CADT Leaders within the Caraga region which covers the areas of Santiago, and Tubay in Cabadbaran City.
The event was attended as well by Director Ordonio P. Rocero, Jr. from NCIP Region 13, and Engr. Cierona Molaan-Cutar, Provincial Director of NCIP Agusan del Norte. The agreement marks a commitment to acknowledge and respect the ancestral rights of the Indigenous People of CADT 092 over their traditional lands.
Lieutenant Colonel Cresencio C. Gargar, the Commanding Officer of the 29th IB of the Philippine Army said the government troops pledged to ensure the security and protection of the Indigenous People of CADT 092 against threats or encroachments on their territory.
The recently forged 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.
“The 29IB is grateful for the cooperation among all parties involved in this agreement, this agreement underscores 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,” he added.
