Case Study - Philippines Metagora Pilot Project CHAPTER 10: GENERAL LESSONS AND CONCLUSIONS (page 2)
10.2 POSITIVE OFFSHOOTS OF THE STUDY
In addition to the successful undertaking of the different activities as agreed upon in the Terms of Reference, there were positive offshoots of this study. These are described below:
10.2.1 Invitation to share information on IP issues and concerns in relation to their rights
A research study, funded by ILO, was commissioned from the Ateneo Human Rights Center. The lawyer-researcher requested an interview with the PhilMetagora Project Coordinator, Atty. Anita M. Chauhan, regarding the salient findings of the study and the methodology and coverage. That interview was followed by a focus group discussion in which Atty. Chauhan, another CHRP representative, and a NCIP representative participated.
10.2.2 Use of Findings
As a result of the Local Users’ Forum conducted among the Bugkalot Tribe in Aglipay, Quirino, one of the stakeholders, representing the committee crafting the protected areas of the province of Quirino, personally informed the Project Coordinator, Atty. Chauhan, that the findings of the study were useful to the Bugkalots because they represent the first formal study of the tribe. The findings will also be useful for the preparation of the Protected Area Plan of Quirino. According to that participant, the Bugkalot ancestral domain comprises 50% of the land area of Quirino; hence, the study provides important information on the situation of Bugkalots that will be used to prepare the plan.
10.2.3 Enhanced Rights-based ADSDPP of the Kankana-ey Tribe
The Kankana-ey tribe had already prepared its Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, or ADSDPP, prior to this study. However, after this study was conducted, the tribe requested that they be assisted in enhancing the ADSDPP by adopting the rights-based framework and integrating into the ADSDPP ADSDPP the study’s findings regarding the tribe.
Three meetings were conducted in this respect:
10.2.3.1 First Meeting with Kibungan LGU Officials to Review Kankana-ey Tribe ADSDPP
Applying Rights-Based Approach Planning Framework
Date/Venue: 16 May 16 2005/CHR-I Regional Office, Pagdalagan Norte,
San Fernando City, La Union
The first meeting was an exploratory one, in which key officials of the LGU of Kibungan and tribal leaders brainstormed on how to enhance the ADSDPP. The meeting resulted in the review and inclusion of programmes, projects and activities (PPAs) that were linked to specific human rights. This meeting was financed with Metagora local meetings funds.
10.2.3.2 Second Meeting with Kibungan LGU Officials to Review Kankana-ey Tribe ADSDPP
Applying Rights-Based Approach Planning
Date/Venue: 15 June 2005/CHR-RO1, Pagdalagan Norte, San Fernando City, La Union
This was an orientation on rights-based ADSDPP planning and agreements on how to enhance the ADSDPP. Tribal participants expressed their desire to enhance their tribe’s ADSDPP. The Project Coordinator, Atty. Chauhan, was entrusted revise the plan, incorporating the findings of this study and using the rights-based framework in the development plan. This meeting, as per instruction of NCIP, was funded by NCIP.
10.2.3.3 Kankana-ey Tribe Workshop and Planning for Rights-based ADSDPP
Date/Venue: 27 September 27 2005/Jacks Restaurant, La Trinidad, Benguet
This third meeting was the tribal representatives’ review of the enhancement done by CHRP and their contributions to the enhancement. The tribal representatives agreed to prepare and submit for inclusion the contributions required from them to enhance the ADSDPP. This was conducted with joint funding from the CHRP UNDP fund and the LGU Kibungan fund.
Two other meetings were planned: one in October 2005, in which the contributions agreed upon were presented by the tribe and the second round of editing by CHRP, and a last formal tribal assembly to present and approve the enhanced rights-based ADSDPP.
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