“REQUESTING NCIP TO MAINTAIN THE COMPOSITION OF SPECIAL PROVINCIAL TASK FORCE (SPTF) IN THE PROVINCE OF PALAWAN, INSTEAD OF CREATING THE PROVINCIAL DELINEATION TEAM (PDT)”

WHEREAS, pursuant to R.A. 7611, otherwise known as the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan, which took effect on 19 June 1992, the SEP serves as the framework of government agencies concerned in the formulation of plans, programs and projects affecting the environment and natural resources of Palawan;

WHEREAS, pursuant to section 9 of R.A. 7611, the PCSD has established a graded system of protection and development control over the whole of Palawan, including its tribal lands, forests, mines, agricultural areas, settlement areas, small islands, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds and the surrounding sea known as the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN);

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous People Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, was passed recognizing, protecting and promoting the rights of the indigenous people by instituting and establishing the necessary mechanisms to enforce and guarantee the realization of these rights, taking into consideration their customs, traditions, values, beliefs, interests and institutions, and to adopt and implement measures to protect their rights to their ancestral domains;

WHEREAS, both the PCSD and the NCIP recognize the SEP as the comprehensive framework for the sustainable development of Palawan, adhere to the general policy of the state to promote and protect the preferential rights of the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous People to their ancestral domains and agree to the importance of promoting indigenous ways for the sustainable management of the natural resources;

WHEREAS, the NCIP, through its SPTF undertakes the delineation and validation of the application for the issuance of a Certificate of Ancestral Domain/Land Titling, pursuant to its processes as stipulated in the Joint NCIP-PCSD Memorandum Circular No-2005-1;

WHEREAS, said Special Provincial Task Force (SPTF) refers to the Special Task Force which is responsible for the identification, delineation, recognition and management of ancestral domain claims where the PCSD Committee on Tribal Affairs shall be duly represented;

WHEREAS, the composition of the SPTF was changed in line with the organization of Provincial Delineation Team (PDT);

WHEREAS, in view of the SEP and the necessity of multi-sectoral representations, the PCSD recommends that the multi-sectoral composition of the SPTF be maintained in the Province of Palawan;

WHEREFORE, upon motion duly seconded, the Council resolves, as it is hereby RESOLVED, REQUESTING NCIP TO MAINTAIN THE COMPOSITION OF SPECIAL PROVINCIAL TASK FORCE (SPTF) IN THE PROVINCE OF PALAWAN, FNSTEAD OF CREATING THE PROVINCIAL DELINEATION TEAM (PDT);

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the PCSD shall make representation with the NCIP Central Office in Manila for its concurrence;

RESOLVED FINALLY, that copy of this Resolution be furnish to NCIP for information and appropriate action.

We hereby certify that the above-quoted Resolution has been duly approved and adopted by the PCSD on the 24th day of June 2011 at Puerto Princesa City.

ROMEO B. DORADO Secretary

APPROVED FOR THE COUNCIL: ABRAHAM KAHLIL B. MITRA Chairman

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