Consultation on the proposed IRR for the Mapping and Delineation of Ancestral Domains held.

A 2-day long consultation was conducted by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) last June 18, 2003 at the Balay Kalinaw in the UP campus, Diliman. The proposed (IRR) Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Mapping and Delineation of ancestral domains under the IPRA was formally presented in the consultation.

Ambassador Howard Q. Dee delivered the keynote address while NCIP Chairperson Reuben Dasay-Lingating facilitated the actual conduct of the consultation. Atty. Ipat Luna a consultant of CAST, presented the draft IRR which was the product of more than a year of discussions after Ambassador Dee initiated the formation of an NGO-Working Group to help the NCIP draft guidelines for mapping and delineation.

Members of the NGO-Working group include PAFID, Anthrowatch, Assisi Foundation, Mangyan Mission, Inc. Other NGOs and concerned individual also helped and participated in the more than one year of discussions and deliberations conducted by the NGO-Working Group to draft the proposed IRR.

Geodetic Engineers coming from the academe as well as the Government came in full force to air their concerns regarding the proposed IRR. The Engineers expressed their doubts on the applicability and appropriateness of the combined-use of Mapping Grade and Survey Grade GPS in the conduct of surveys. Their main contention was the probable accuracy error that will arise with the use of Mapping Grade GPS. The Geodetic Engineers also maintained their authority as the legally authorized officers to conduct surveys as mandated by RA 8065 or the Magna Carta of Geodetic Engineers.

Chairman Lingating for his part reiterated the NCIP's legal mandate to oversee all surveys and delineation of Ancestral Domain. Included in this mandate is the Quasi-Legislative authority to promulgate special rules that shall cover activities including mapping in ancestral domains. He welcomed most of the comments and concerns raised by the Geodetic Engineers but he also maintained that his Agency is committed to issue titles to qualified Indigenous Communities as mandated by RA 8371 otherwise known as IPRA.

It is expected that after two weeks the final version of the IRR on Mapping and Delineation of Ancestral Domains shall be issued by the Commission.