The rights and interests of Ayta Indigenous Peoples in Porac town must be prioritized in the development and utilization of their ancestral domain, according to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
The agency stressed this during the Pamisanmetung Para Quing Karapatan, a community-based dialogue and legal clinic caravan held in Barangay Inararo on Monday.
The CHR stressed that the protection of ancestral lands remains a major concern for the IPs.
Developments emerge in the area such as resorts, game fowl farms, and ecotourism projects.
To address the Aytas' concerns, the CHR, Department of Tourism (DOT) Region III, Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are working together.
The DOT assured of its support for Indigenous Cultural Communities.
The agency said ecotourism initiatives are aimed to preserve cultural identity while creating employment for Ayta residents.
The DA, for its part, said it is pushing for sustainable farm tourism development, through the Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo or the 4K Program.
The NCIP said it is set to coordinate with the Land Transportation Office to conduct theoretical and practical driving lessons to eligible Aytas, especially the youth.
Roy Guiao, an Ayta leader of Barangay Inararo, said farm-to-market roads help the residents in transporting harvests and sending their children to school.