UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF OUR INDIGENOUS CULTURAL PEOPLES

UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF OUR INDIGENOUS TRIBAL PEOPLES

Let me start by commending a smart move that I think deserves more attention. Transferring the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) from the DSWD to the Office of the President (OP) might seem like a bureaucratic reshuffle on the surface—but to me, it’s a game-changing opportunity.

Why? Because with NCIP now under the President’s wing, it has a better shot at getting real support, political will, and coordination across agencies. No more passing the buck or waiting in line for funding. This should finally pave the way for a whole-of-government approach to development programs for our Indigenous Cultural Peoples (ICPs).

And here’s the thing: these communities aren’t lacking in land or labor. They have vast ancestral domains, often untouched, fertile, and full of potential. They have young, able-bodied members eager to work and learn. But here’s what they don’t have—technology, training, capital, and market access.

So, Mr. President, with your influence now directly linked to NCIP, the time is ripe to launch a nationwide, integrated tribal development program. Allow me to suggest where we can start.

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1. Reforest, Afforest, Revive

I’m a big believer in trees—not just for timber, but for economic, ecological, and climate benefits. Let’s help our tribal communities go big on reforestation (reclaiming denuded forests) and afforestation (planting trees where there were none before). And no, not with invasive alien species—we need to prioritize native tree species that restore biodiversity and protect watersheds.

Tree planting is not charity. It can be an income stream. Fast-growing trees like bamboo and banana (technically not trees, but fast earners) should be in the mix. Both have massive markets—bamboo in construction and crafts; banana in food and even export.

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2. Livestock + Trees = Silvopasture

Here’s a great synergy: while the trees are growing, livestock and poultry can grow under their shade. Whether through cages or free-range models, our ITPs can raise native chickens, ducks, turkeys, quails, even goats and pigs—adding immediate cash flow to the long-term returns from trees.

Add to this aquaculture—in rivers, lakes, or even Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) for landlocked tribes—and you’ve got a diversified, climate-resilient income model.

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3. Climate Finance: The Untapped Gold Mine

Beyond wood and fruit, let’s talk carbon credits. If we support our tribes to properly document, register, and manage their reforestation and conservation efforts, they can start earning from carbon markets. Microsoft Copilot describes debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps as agreements that allow countries to reduce debt in exchange for conservation.

Why not tribal communities too? With the right institutional support, they can become nature-based carbon project developers—a fancy term, yes, but it simply means getting paid to protect nature. That’s fair compensation, and a financial incentive to keep forests standing.

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4. Bring in the Agencies, Finally

Let me ask this straightforwardly: where are the agencies?

We need the following government bodies to step up and coordinate directly with NCIP and tribal councils, especially in areas with Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs):

• National Development Company (NDC) – for funding pilot tribal enterprises
• Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) – for microloans and startup support
• Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) – for introducing farm tools, processing machines, etc.
• Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) – for long-term agri-loans
• Department of Agriculture (DA) – for training, seeds, livestock, and tools
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – for land-use support and environmental permits
• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – for helping tribes market their products locally and abroad

Each of these agencies has its own programs—but too often, they operate in silos. Mr. President, your role here is to make them sit down together, plan together, and implement together—with NCIP as the focal point.

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5. From Beneficiaries to Partners

The worst thing we can do is treat our indigenous communities like passive “beneficiaries.” They are not waiting for aid—they are waiting for opportunity.

These tribes have protected our forests for generations. They understand nature better than most of us ever will. Let’s equip them with modern tools, fair financing, and sustainable markets so they can move from the margins to the mainstream.

Let us not forget that development must be inclusive, and no one should be left behind—especially not the original stewards of our land.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

08-15-2025