PEZA, NCIP signs agreement pushing for ecozones in ancestral domains
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to promote the creation of economic zones in ancestral domains and indigenous lands.
In a statement, both agencies said that this deal is in accordance with the Administrative Order 18 which seeks to develop more special economic zones in the countryside.
Under the MOA, PEZA and NCIP agreed to assist indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) who are interested in having portions of their ancestral domains to be declared as an economic zone.
PEZA added that ICCs with certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT) or a title formally recognizing the rights of possession and ownership will serve as the ecozone developers or owners who will be receiving the lease payments from the ecozone locators.
PEZA Director-General Charito Plaza added that ICCs will be prioritized in terms of jobs that will open in the ecozones to be developed under the MOA.
“We have to enrich, empower, not just the government, not just LGUs (local government units), not just locators and investors, but most especially the people who own the land,” she said.
A technical working group composed of five members each from PEZA and NCIP will be formed to regularly monitor and report updates on the implementation of the MOA.
