SAGADA, Mountain Province – The municipal government joined the indigenous peoples of the municipality in strongly opposing the entry of business magnate in the locality purposely to develop some private properties into tourism sites that is in violation of the unwritten rule that lands in the town are not for sale to outsiders.
Mayor James Pooten confirmed that Ayala, one of the country’s magnates, is planning to develop a 20-hectare private property in Batalaw for rest and recreation purposes but the same is already in violation of the town’s unwritten rule that lands could not be sold to outsiders so as to ensure the protection of the domain of the indigenous peoples from possible abuse just like what had been happening in other similarly situated ecotourism destinations inside and outside the Cordillera.
He claimed that under the unwritten rule, residents could sell their lands and properties to the members of their families and relatives based on the hierarchy of kinship but not to individuals who are not natives of the municipality.
In an earlier statement, the indigenous peoples of Sagada revealed that Sagada has the smallest land area among the ten municipalities of Mountain Province with only 10.970 hectares.
“For its small size, our territory has been blessed with a spectacular landscape and source of land and pride for us people and the envy of visitors who come for adventure, enjoyment and relaxation,” the statement read.
The Sagadas people stressed that through the years, they made efforts to keep it that way in the face of the onslaught of mass tourism which has chipped off much of what they value as a community.
They stated that they are now making a stand for a kind of tourism that will put premium on protecting the natural heritage “Kabunyan” (Creator) has bestowed on them and the cultural values handed to them by their ancestors. The people also said that if tourism is that badly needed, it should be nature-based one that supports the small businesses for the benefit of all sectors of the community.
The local tourist industry has opened opportunities for livelihood. The guides and drivers from the locality upgraded their skills and abilities to address the needs of the residents and the tourists and travelers. They even boosted their weaving industry, orchards, and coffee production and downstream businesses. Because of the economic progress of Sagada, it caught the interests of investors and would be investors.
According to the statement, rich business owners or magnates and also showbiz personalities have expressed interests to buy, lease or control Sagada lands. “We have long historical tradition of fighting for our communal and ancestral lands,” the Ysagadas stated stressing they have dried the entry of big corporates and companies they seen as big threats to their livelihood and existence.
“Now once more, dark clouds hover our community posing danger not only to local businesses but to Sagada’s overall social and cultural fabric, “ the Ysagadas stated. They added that giving way to the outside moneyed interests will have serious implications on Sagada people as well as the local governance as local leaders will be pushes to the margins.
They stressed through the statement their strong opposition to the entry of corporations of the magnates and other outsiders that will be eventually dispossessed them of their ancestral heritage. “If we surrender our lands, forests, mountains and watersheds to outsiders, we surrender our souls as a people. This is our patrimony and must remain so for generations,” the statement ends.
The said statement was signed by residents of the different barangays of Sagada and is still being circulated for additional signatures to be submitted to the Sagada Municipal Government. This is to persuade their leaders to make a stand against the sale and lease especially large-scale patents to outsiders.
Mayor Pooten stated that a lawyer, serving as the liaison for the magnate, has already met with the concerned land owner on their plan but efforts are being done by the local government to bring to the attention of the developer the prevailing issues and concerns of the indigenous peoples on the said matter.
Further, he added that the local legislative body is also doing its part in crafting the appropriate legislation that will outline the details of their unwritten rule on the disposal of private properties which had been passed to generations.
By HENT
