“BUDI MI”—AN EXPRESSION OF DOMAGET SELF-GOVERNANCE AND SELF-DETERMINATION!

CABANATUAN CITY—The Domaget (Dumagat) Indigenous Cultural Communities in the municipalities of Laur and Gen. Tinio, and the city of Palayan, Nueva Ecija published their Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP) in an effort to engage development partners in fulfilling their community vision of sustained prosperity, safety, peaceful, developed community today and for the next generation. ADSDPP is a tool for the empowerment of ICCs/IPs towards the fulfillment of the general well-being of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations.
The ADSDPP, coined “Budi Mi” by the Domaget ICCs/IPs, literally means “what we want” in their Kabolowen language is composed of the biophysical, social, economic, and cultural profiles of the more than 7,000-hectare Ancestral Domain also known as “Salmag”. It highlights the strategic community development plan and implementation mechanisms and strategies of the ICC to achieve their vision.
Republic Act 8371 also known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 19917, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and the NCIP Administrative Order 2, s. 2018 or the Revised Guidelines on the ADSDPP Formulation guarantee that all ICCs/IPs shall have the right to freely pursue their economic, social, political, and cultural development. In the exercise of this right, the ICCs/IPs shall formulate and pursue their own plans for the sustainable management and development of the land and natural resources as well as human resources within their ancestral domains based on their indigenous knowledge systems and practices and on the principle of self-determination.
Budi Mi formulation and implementation are spearheaded by the Domaget Community Working Group and were made possible through its development partners primarily the NCIP Regional Office 3 and Nueva Ecija Provincial Office. This is also in partnership with International Consultancy for Indigenous Peoples Environment and Development Co. (ICON IPED).
NCIP Nueva Ecija Provincial Officer Dr. Donato Bumacas emphasized that Budi Mi is a living document thus it is necessary to immediately work with stakeholders and development partners through pioneering mechanisms such as Barangay E-Partnership (BePart) Network, Indigenous Multi-Stakeholders Partnership (I’M Part). The Local Government Units of Laur, Gen. Tinio, and Palayan City recognized the living document and expressed support for its integration into their respective local development and investment plans. This coming April 26, 2021, the NCIP Nueva Ecija Provincial Office is set to conduct training on the ordinance and resolution-making training for purposes of adoption of the ADSDPP into Barangay and Municipal/City Sanggunian. This will be attended by concerned Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMR) of Salmag Ancestral Domain.