BORACAY – President Rodrigo Duterte will give a Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to the Ati tribe in this island resort next month.
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) undersecretary Emily Padilla and DAR Region 6 director Stephen Leonides confirmed this, adding that the distribution will be on Nov. 8.
Some 3.1 hectares of land in Barangay Manoc-manoc would be distributed.
Last week, DAR secretary John Castriciones said the tribe could occupy the land, in line with Duterte’s previous statement that he wants to place the world-famous island under land reform.
Officials are now working with the Registry of Deeds for the issuance of the CLOA to some 48 members of the Ati tribe. Ownership will be collective, as requested by the tribe.
The government is also looking into the eligibility of around 60 members from the Tumandok tribe.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources undersecretary Jonas Leones, however, said a bigger area will be given to 31 indigenous peoples families. He said 7.8 hectares of land may be distributed before Christmas. (With a report from CNN Philippines/PN)
