The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is stepping up implementation of the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project in Davao Oriental to secure individual titles for agrarian reform beneficiaries, in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and concerned indigenous people’s tribes with ancestral domain claims or land titles.
The DAR Davao recently held a coordination meeting on the implementation of the SPLIT Project involving the lands of the Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran (KKK) in Barangay Taocanga, Municipality of Manay.
The meeting was particularly significant because one of the two landholdings previously covered by a Collective Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CCLOA) is situated within an area covered by a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). This situation calls for careful consideration of applicable laws and procedures, as well as full respect for the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples throughout the process.
The DAR delegation was led by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Atty. Joebar C. Pondoc and PARPO I Virginia J. Batosalem, together with CARPO-LTID Roy L. Balilahon, CARPO-PBDD Arlene B. Linsag, and Manay MARPO Raul C. Brion.
During the meeting, DAR officials engaged in dialogue with leaders of the Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) and the Ancestral Domain Management Office (ADMO). The Indigenous leaders openly shared their perspectives and insights, particularly on the cultural, legal, and community considerations that need to be observed in the implementation of the project.
Pondoc emphasized that the success of the initiative depends on meaningful consultation and respect for the rights of all stakeholders.
‘We want to ensure that our Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries [ARBs] receive the support and services they deserve, but we also recognize the importance of respecting the ancestral domain and the rights of our Indigenous Peoples. Through proper consultation and coordination, we can move forward without compromising either,’ he said.
Rather than rushing the process, the participants agreed to move forward through proper consultation, coordination, and compliance with established procedures. Among the identified next steps is the preparation of a project profile for submission to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Region XI, in support of securing the required Field-Based Investigation (FBI) and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) certification precondition.
For DAR Davao Oriental, the initiative goes beyond the parcelization of collective landholdings and the issuance of individual titles. It is about ensuring that ARBs receive the services and opportunities they are entitled to while safeguarding the ancestral domain, rights, culture, and traditions of Indigenous Peoples.
The continuing coordination among DAR, NCIP, IPS, ADMO, and other concerned stakeholders reflects a shared commitment to a fair, lawful, inclusive, and culturally sensitive agrarian reform process.
Ultimately, genuine agrarian reform is not only about land and titles. It is about creating opportunities for communities to grow, thrive, and build a better future while honoring the history, culture, and identity rooted in the land.
For DAR Davao Oriental, supporting ARBs and respecting ancestral domain go hand in hand in building an inclusive and sustainable future for all.