By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Director Clarence Baguilat commended the present administration for the recognition and formal adoption of the indigenous forest management practices of the Northern Kankana-ey/Applai ethnic group Tadian, Mountain Province.

Baguilat spoke in the live interaction right before President Benigno Aquino III delivered his state of the nation address (SONA). Baguio City was among the three chosen cities for the live interaction the other two were Davao City and Cebu City.

Baguilat explained that though the Joint DENR-NCIP Administrative Order No. 2008-01 towards the Recognition, Documentation, and Registration of all the sustainable Traditional and Indigenous Forest Resource Management Practices in the Cordillera was issued in 2008, it was formally adopted under the PNoy administration. The said order covers the Batangan system.

He also pointed out that this recognition was not just the first in the Cordillera but throughout the country. He added that the pilot area for the recognition process was implemented in Tadian of which the completed documentation has been signed and affirmed by concerned government agencies.

The regional director shared that the process included documentation through community immersion, public consultation and validation of indigenous management system practiced in Batangan and the forest resources situation as documented by the indigenous people of the said area.

After proper analysis of the forest resources using the criteria set under the joint administrative order, the DENR and NCIP found the Batangan system to be sustainable. This prompted both agencies to issue a Joint Comfirmation Recognition Order. The joint recognition was granted to the Northern Kankana-ey/Applai group within the 19 barangays of Tadian. The joint confirmation was handed to the Tadian folk last July 15. # nordis.net