NCIP awards land title to Southern Mindanao IPs 

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has issued a Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CALT) to the Blaan tribe in Barangay Sinawal, General Santos City.

The CALT, with a total area of 1,091 hectares, was received by the Ubo, Mentong, Majola, Gandam-bangon, Baguirit/Tabalon, and Muya/Sibang clans, according to the NCIP in its Facebook page.

CALT is a title that formally recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples (IP) over their ancestral lands.

The awarding ceremony was also attended by the representatives from the Ancestral Domains Office, Legal Affairs Office, Office of Empowerment and Human Rights, Mindanao Quick Response Team, and Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Youth Organization.

The Blaan or B’laan tribe is one of the IPs living in Southern Mindanao whose livelihood includes farming, weaving, fishing, and hunting.