WHISPERS of the entry of outsiders in Sagada town in Mountain Province has been met by early opposition.
In a petition, concerned residents said “we firmly oppose the entry of Ayala or anybody who would dispossess us of our ancestral heritage. This is our patrimony and must remain so for generations, this is a statement upholding Sagada customary laws that our land is not for sale, lease, and mortgage, patenting to outside private and corporate entities.”
Sagada Mayor James Pooten confirmed the reports of the Ayala group of companies poised to enter an agreement with a local family who has 100 hectares of land and is receptive to giving a portion to the corporation.
Pooten said he is banking on customary laws of the community to prevail which dictate leasing of land must be on a family first option and when no one in the family is interested to take the land, a community consultation should ensue.
The mayor added tradition and custom should be followed.
“Now we are taking a stand on the kind of tourism that will put premium on protecting the natural heritage Kabunyan has bestowed on us and the cultural values handed down from our ancestors. If we need tourism, it must be nature based tourism that supports the development of small businesses for the benefit of all sectors in the community. Our local tourist industry has opened opportunities for livelihood. Our guides and drivers are upgrading their skills to address the needs local residents and travelers. Boosted our weaving industry, our orchards, coffee production and downstream businesses, Sagda’s economic progress has not gone unnoticed by outsiders, drawing the interest of investors and would be investors,” the statement further read.
Petitioners added Sagada has the smallest land area among the 10 municipalities in Mountain Province with only 10.910 hectares. For its small size, their territory has been blessed with a spectacular landscape and source of life, pride for the people, and the envy of visitors who come for adventure, employment and relaxation.
Residents have also made efforts to keep it that way in the face of the onslaught of mass tourism which has clipped off much of what they value as a community.
“Rich businessmen and oligarchs, showbiz personalities, have expressed interest to buy, lease, or control our land. We have a long historical tradition of fighting for our communal and ancestral lands. We have denied entry of Cellophil, Philcarbon, big mining corporate interests. Now once more dark clouds hover above community, posting danger not only to local businesses but to Sagada’s overall social governance by giving way to outside moneyed interests while to eventually pushing local political leaders to margins,” the petition added.
Pooten said as to date, there are no formal talks made by any local families nor the Ayala group to the local government unit.