This partnership brings together the expertise of NCIP in ancestral domain management and DepEd’s mission of providing accessible, culturally responsive education, and strengthens the mandate of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) in connection with DepEd’s IPEd programs.

A key element of this partnership involved the formalization of usufruct agreements, which allows DepEd to use ancestral domain lands for school sites while respecting the land ownership rights of the IP communities.

A total of 43 usufruct agreements were formalized through the efforts of SDO Oriental Mindoro headed by SDS Maria Luisa D. Servando, CESO VI, IP communities represented by their IP leaders/ elders, NCIP-MIMAROPA headed by Regional Director Joemer Samong, with the support and assistance of the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro under the leadership of Governor Humerlito A. Dolor, PhD.

Present also during the activity were Provincial Administrator Atty. Earl Ligorio R. Turano II, Board Member Lagtum A. Pasag, NCIP-OIC Provincial Officer Julito Garcia, NCIP- Bulalacao Service Center Head Eden Cenon, IP leaders/ elders, school heads, and other external stakeholders, ASDS Felix Famaran, and SDO Personnel.

The event marked a historic milestone—a convergence of efforts to protect, preserve, and promote quality education for our Indigenous learners, ensuring they have a conducive, safe, and sustainable space for learning.