The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) 10th Commission has formally approved the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) for the Bukidnon Indigenous Cultural Communities in Negros Occidental, concluding a 25-year legal process.
The decision was finalized during an NCIO En Banc session on May 27.
Led by NCIP Secretary and Chairperson Nancy A. Catamco, the approved CADT secures a total of 16,476.7607 hectares of ancestral land based on official survey results, an NCIP Facebook posts said.
The titled property covers Barangay Codcod in San Carlos City, Barangay Igmayaan in Don Salvador Benedicto, and Barangay Minoyan in Murcia.
The milestone decision marks the culmination of a bureaucratic and community process that originally commenced in 2001, the NCIP said.
Commissioner Alex Centena strongly pushed for the application’s approval, citing the community’s just and legitimate claims to the land.
The En Banc session was presided over by Commissioner Marie Grace Pascua, where the body voted unanimously in favor of issuance.
The resolution was supported by NCIP Commissioners Rhodex Valenciano, Purisimo Tiam, Datu “Amarillo” Marcelo Alejo Jr., and Alberto Lagamon.
In a statement, the NCIP emphasized that the CADT serves as more than just a legal document.
The title is a formal recognition of the tribe’s legitimate land rights, a tribute to the rich cultural identity of the Bukidnon people, and a victory for both current and future generations of the indigenous community, the NCIP said.
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