ROLMIN conducts community assemblies to improve access to justice of communities in MANP

“Adunay malinawon nga pamaagi!” (There are peaceful ways!)

This was the message of a series of community assemblies in Mt. Apo, supported by GIZ through the Promotion of the Rule of Law in Mindanao (ROLMIN) project. The community assemblies are part of the project’s awareness-raising initiative to improve access to information for communities around Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP). The assemblies were conducted from 22 July to 02 August in eight barangays around the protected area, with over 800 participants.

Representatives from partner agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) Commission on Human Rights (CHR), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) were invited to provide a platform for community members to directly address their questions to the relevant agencies. Topics such as the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), Barangay Human Rights Action Center (BRHAC), Barangay Justice System, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) were discussed during the assemblies, with each topic explained by the relevant agency.

This activity also served as the ceremonial awarding of barangay council members and officials for their participation in the training conducted by ROLMIN to equip them with the skills to responsibly handle land conflicts. They serve as ambassadors of the campaign to champion peaceful ways to resolve conflicts. As part of the awareness-raising effort, various IEC materials, knowledge products, and promotional materials were distributed during the event to inform community members about relevant topics.

Ancestral Domain and Protected Area
With the passing of IPRA in 1997, several areas around Mt. Apo were successfully claimed by different indigenous communities as their ancestral domain. In 2003, Mt. Apo was declared a protected area through the Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) Act of 2003. These overlapping declarations added layers of complexity, making it more challenging for community members to comply with regulations and policies. During the community assemblies, several questions were raised regarding the mandates of relevant agencies such as the NCIP and DENR within MANP. With the presence of both agencies, these questions were immediately clarified.  This dialogue allowed for a more open exchange between the community and the government, bringing information about land rights and conflict resolution mechanisms closer to the people.

Improving Access to Justice and Keeping the Peace
With more context-based and needs-specific discussions like these with the community, actual issues and concerns can be easily resolved and addressed. This sentiment was echoed by feedback gathered from participants, who expressed their gratitude for having an avenue to ask questions and clarify concerns. Some participants also noted that some information was new to them, and they realized during the activity how important it is to be familiar with policies, rights, and processes for settling conflicts.

The awareness-raising campaign aims to contribute to the overall peacebuilding initiative of the project. Improving access to information for community members can reduce the likelihood of resorting to violence due to land conflicts. By introducing and mainstreaming different conflict resolution mechanisms, complainants are provided with more platforms to settle disputes and maintain peace in the community.