SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The long-awaited agreement for the joint development and management of Aeta ancestral lands in this freeport was forged at last at the Aeta Pastolan village here over the weekend.
In a simple but historic event, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza, Pastolan Tribal Council (PTC) Chieftain Conrado Frenilla, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Chairperson Zenaida Brigida Hamada-Pawid, signed the Joint Management Agreement (JMA) in front of teary-eyed but joyous residents of the Aeta community.
Witnessing the signing were SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, Rep. Herminia Roman, Hermosa Mayor Danny Malana, NCIP commissioners, SBMA officials, and members of the Bethesda Spring of Hope Healing Ministry led by Maribi Garcia.
Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos started the day’s ceremonies with a mass attended by the whole community.
The Aeta Ambala tribe of Subic Bay holds a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) given on May 12, 2009, representing ownership of the more than 4,280 hectares of land covering the Kalayaan and Binictican housing areas, and the Apaliin, Pamulaklakin and El Kabayo tourism areas here, among others.
Under the JMA, the agencies represented by the signatories shall respect the rights of the Aetas in their pursuit of economic, cultural and social development based on the IPRA law and programs implemented by the government.
The JMA also provides for the systematic management and development of the ancestral lands as indicated in the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, while ensure the promotion of the Aetas human rights.
“The signing today of the JMA is really a historic event,” said SBMA Chairman Garcia, noting that the JMA has taken almost three years to complete and represents the first time that the indigenous people of Subic are officially recognized and justly compensated for the use of their ancestral land.
Garcia also commended the efforts and dedication of Administrator Arreza in consulting and gathering consensus on the issues involved.
The NCIP explained in detail to the Aeta residents all the provisions of the agreement, as was agreed upon by the parties, and validated the community’s consent to the accord.
With the signing of the JMA, the Subic Aeta tribe will collect the equivalent of five percent of the gross income paid by investors for rent of the land.
In addition, SBMA will provide each of the 300 Aeta families who are officially registered with the NCIP P5,000 every quarter of the year from the time the JMA was signed. This will be increased on the 6th, 11th, 16th and 25th years of the JMA.
Moreover, Administrator Arreza said that with the JMA in effect, the SBMA will hire another 50 Aeta workers starting October this year, and continue the agency’s Community Development Assistance Programs at the Pastolan village.
He said the SBMA will also construct two schoolrooms for high school and provide salaries for the four high school teachers; build a community clinic to be manned by medical personnel detailed from the SBMA Dispensary; and donate P200,000 every year to be used for the Aeta village’s fiesta and Christmas celebration.
The JMA will also be reviewed after implementation.
Arreza also stressed that no part of the Aeta ancestral land such as the ancestral cemetery, the Pastolan community proper, and other sacred places, would be offered to investors.
For her part, NCIP chairperson Zenaida Brigida Hamada-Pawid lauded the SBMA, especially Arreza and Garcia, for fulfilling their promise to give the Aeta indigenous people all their due.
“Masyadong memorable ang okasyong ito para sa NCIP dahil naging partner, at hindi lang beneficiary, ang mga katutubo sa isang usaping magpapa-unlad sa kanila,” she said.
