Cabadbaran City, Agusan Del Norte – The 29th Infantry Battalion (Matatag) has solidified its partnership with the Indigenous People of CADT 092 by signing a Memorandum of Agreement and Deed of Grant of Usufructuary Rights on April 12, 2024, at the 29th Infantry Battalion Headquarters in Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte. The Deed of Grant of Usufructuary Rights hereby grants access to their ancestral domain for the planning, development,
construction, operation and maintenance of the project and related activities of the 29IB including the establishment of camps and detachments within the ancestral domain areas of CADT 092, hereby grant their free and voluntary consent to the Project.
The ceremony is the first ever formal signing of Deed of grant of Usufructuary Rights conducted between the AFP and CADT Leaders within CARAGA, which covers the areas of Cabadbaran City, Santiago, and Tubay. It was attended as well by Director Ordonio P. Rocero, Jr. from NCIP Region 13, and Engr. Cierona Molaan-Cutar, Provincial Director of NCIP Agusan del Norte. The agreement marks a commitment to acknowledge and respect the ancestral rights of the Indigenous People of CADT 092 over their traditional lands.
Government troops have pledged to ensure the security and protection of the Indigenous People of CADT 092 against threats or encroachments on their territory. Additionally, the partnership aims to empower the Indigenous community through capacity-building programs and socio-economic initiatives, enabling them to actively engage in decisions affecting their ancestral domain.
LtCol Cresencio C Gargar, Commanding Officer of 29IB said “The 29IB is grateful for the cooperation among all parties involved in this agreement, this agreement underscores the significance of preserving the cultural heritage and ancestral domain rights of Indigenous communities, honoring their deep-rooted connection to the land and resources, and promoting their identity and continuity.”
