Ancestral lands issue in Baguio

EDITORIAL

The issue over ancestral lands in Baguio is becoming more controversial by the day with the National Commission on Indigenous People’s issuing titles to claimants even over parks and forest reservations.

In a move to shed light on the issue, the University of the Philippines Baguio and Pine Cone Movement recently held a public forum on “Casa Vallejo and Beyond: Understanding the Ancestral Land Issue in Baguio” at UP Baguio last Jan. 24.

The panel comprised of leaders who represented various perspectives presented their stand on matters such as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), the issuance of Certificates of Ancestral Land Titles (CALTs) in this city to claimants, and how these affectws the issue of culture and heritage.

Lawyer Jose Molintas, area manager for Tanggapang Panligal ng Katutubong Pilipino (PANLIPI) Cordillea Administrative Region, said there was need to implement and not to amend the IPRA in order to serve the indigenous peoples.

“We must listen to the IPs on what they plan to do with the land they are claiming,” Molintas said. “For those private entities who have been affected, have a dialogue with the IPs.”

The NCIP  presented its side through former Commissioner Zenaida Pawid, NCIP-Cordillera regional director Amador Batay-an, and regional attorney John Ray Libiran.

Pawid said there is a need to understand the context of the issue of land titles. Libirian said the issue on ancestral lands is special in Baguio because of the city’s history, the value of property in the city, environmental considerations, and heritage.

Lawyer Renato John Bestre, officer in charge of Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera legal office, gave the DENR’s side on the Casa Vallejo issue, stating that the DENR was strict in following rules and regulations regarding issuances, while the NCIP was not. The land where historic Casa Vallejo building stands along Leonard Wood Road in Baguio was recently given a title by the NCIP in favor of an Ibaloi claimant.

Lawyer Reynaldo Agrazamendez, Dean of the College of Law of the University of the Cordilleras, said that the issuance of CALTs poses a problem since CALTs issued today may be sold to non-indigenous peoples by claimants. He said “there should be an inventory of pending CALT and CADT (Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title) applications so that people will be informed.”

The issue on heritage was the main focus of Erlyn Ruth Alcantara, a scholar on Baguio heritage sites. She focused on why Casa Vallejo should be a historical site, citing reasons such as the fact that Casa Vallejo is one of two remaining structures in Baguio that survived bombing during World War II. She also narrated other purposes of the Casa Vallejo throughout history, saying that “all of these show that Baguio is part of a much larger history.”

Alcantara said, “It is the Filipino’s culture and history that we are preserving,” in response to Baguio City Councilor Peter Fianza, who earlier this month posed questions on whose culture or heritage will be preserved if Casa Vallejo will be declared a heritage site.

Lawyer Andres Carantes, elected leader of Asipulan, sided with indigenous peoples, saying that land possessors must be given title over their ancestral land, disposable or not.

Joanna Cariño, adviser of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, said there was a “historical injustice” committed against Ibalois in the creation of Baguio as a chartered city. She added that this injustice should be addressed by the government.

“Unfortunately, instead of being part of the solution, the NCIP has become part of the problem, “ Cariño said. The forum was the organizers’ initiative for “a process of a continuing conversation for an important issue,” said UP Baguio Chancellor Raymundo Rovilos in his remarks. Baguio residents, students, former and present city government officials, members of the media, and civic organization members were among those who attended the public forum.

“The city of Baguio is all our heritage if we want to,” Pawid stated during her parting shots. “Let’s get our act together.”