BK initiates TWG workshop on IP revenue management in ComVal

Bantay Kita along with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Region XI, various indigenous peoples’ organizations, and the Provincial Government of Compostela Valley organized a technical working group workshop last November 10-12 in Davao del Norte.

The said workshop aims to discuss and resolve issues with regards to natural resource management in Compostela Valley where significant mineral and other resources are located. Some of the issues confronting tribal leaders and local government units include poor enforcement of revenue collection especially in inaccessible areas and also the existence of unauthorized collection of fees inside ancestral domains.

The end-goal of the workshop is for various stakeholders to provide inputs in the creation of a framework on ancestral domain revenue management which is in line with IP customary laws to be presented and lobbied to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council) next year.

​A total of sixty-three (63) participants (42 males; 21 females) attended the activity. Participants came from indigenous peoples’ organizations (17 participants), NCIP regional and provincial offices (12), provincial government (12), municipal treasurer’s office (11), municipal assessor’s office (8) and civil society (3).