Ati Indigenous People In Bracai Case Study
Ati indigenous people in Boracay are part of the Atis of Panay and they are facing a land conflict with a developer. During precolonial times, the Atis (Aetas /Itas or Negritos as called by the Spanish), were very nomadic and they tend to settle where the fruit bears. According to the data from the LGU-Malay, there are 64 indigenous people, yet, a site visit in their village revealed otherwise. Currently, according to a community head count by tribe leaders in the Ati Village, there are 194 Ati people and 33 families registered according to the community head count by Daughters of Charity and tribe leaders. (Sr. M. Jalmascado, personal communication, February 19, 2016). Over the years, they also learned how to cultivate the lands while still
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King and Sons Co. Inc , the number 1 claimant of the 2.1 ha land, destroyed portions of the perimeter fence of the Ati Village. Dexter, the 26 year old Ati youth leader was there to face the trespassers. He was murdered early the next year, on February 22, 2013, just a few steps from the Boracay Ati Community Village in Sitio Lugutan, Brgy. Manoc-manoc. Dexter’s sacrifice was followed by concrete interventions from the national government. The Department of Internal Local Government (DILG) made sure that the community will be protected and established a 24/7 police outpost, just outside the village (Dario-Santiago, 2014). Thirty houses (30), front perimeter fence, the chapel were constructed, the Boracay Ati Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BAMPC) store, the livelihood center and sewing facility and the Bihasin Ati Living Heritage Center, have been established. At the moment, a library/computer room is under …show more content…
The country has one of the best environmental laws, however, without strategic implementation, it is nothing. In order to achieve a sustainable Boracay, there must be ‘transition and transformation’. For the previous decade, there has been a debate over the jurisdiction of Boracay Island because the local government unit of Malay did not have the capacity to oversee effective island tourism and development in the island.
Table 19: Summary of shifting of power over jurisdiction of Boracay
King and Sons Co. Inc , the number 1 claimant of the 2.1 ha land, destroyed portions of the perimeter fence of the Ati Village. Dexter, the 26 year old Ati youth leader was there to face the trespassers. He was murdered early the next year, on February 22, 2013, just a few steps from the Boracay Ati Community Village in Sitio Lugutan, Brgy. Manoc-manoc. Dexter’s sacrifice was followed by concrete interventions from the national government. The Department of Internal Local Government (DILG) made sure that the community will be protected and established a 24/7 police outpost, just outside the village (Dario-Santiago, 2014). Thirty houses (30), front perimeter fence, the chapel were constructed, the Boracay Ati Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BAMPC) store, the livelihood center and sewing facility and the Bihasin Ati Living Heritage Center, have been established. At the moment, a library/computer room is under …show more content…
The country has one of the best environmental laws, however, without strategic implementation, it is nothing. In order to achieve a sustainable Boracay, there must be ‘transition and transformation’. For the previous decade, there has been a debate over the jurisdiction of Boracay Island because the local government unit of Malay did not have the capacity to oversee effective island tourism and development in the island.
Table 19: Summary of shifting of power over jurisdiction of Boracay