Mindanao Indigenous Peoples’ Forum addresses land rights and access to justice

On July 30-31, the Promotion of the Rule of Law in Mindanao (ROLMIN) Project conducted the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples’ Forum. This event provided a platform for various Indigenous Peoples (IP) organisations to discuss proposed measures to address Ancestral Domain issues, particularly access to justice and land rights. The forum was attended by 135 representatives from different IP groups in Mindanao, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and National Line Agencies. It presented updates on the Project’s work related to drafting joint policies among land titling agencies such as DENR, LRA, and NCIP for the implementation of tenurial instruments, strengthening capacities for alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and enhancing local complaint bodies for the responsible resolution of conflicts related to land.

During the forum, the IP in Mindanao also consolidated their response to House Bill No. 9608, which proposed amendments to the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA). Among the topics discussed by the IP and stakeholders were the CADT titling process and the harmonization of different land titling and RUI issuance processes, overlapping policies, mandates, and jurisdictions of national line agencies, overlapping land tenure issues and land conflicts, and the recognition and institutionalization of the Indigenous Justice System within the judicial system of the country.

The participants agreed to sustain this dialogue platform and scheduled subsequent meetings of the Mindanao IP Forum to continue discussing issues that affect Indigenous Peoples. They also formed a Technical Working Group to formalise the output of the forum.