On March 17, 2026, the Center for Peace, Indigenous Peoples Resources and Development (CPIPRD) and Maamot IP Community entered into a formal agreement. Chieftain Pineda Grospe and Elder Dominador Capiendo, who represented the IP community. The signing took place at the Ancestral Domain Management Office (ADMO) in Brgy. Maamot, San Jose, Tarlac. Brgy. Kgwd. Alfred Alejo witnessed the event, together with Atty. Sharmaine Valenzuela, a representative of the Commission for the Implementation of the mandated guidelines. This MoA is part of the Center’s application for Certification Precondition (CP) of the research projects. It is also part of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) requirement for consent-based research. The agreement aims to conduct a comprehensive, integrated study of the Ayta Abellings' socio-economic, cultural, political, health, and nutritional conditions. This study will generate empirical data to support policy development, community interventions, and the preparation of their ancestral domain claim.
Building on this partnership, the initiative demonstrates our shared commitment to the rights and welfare of the Ayta Abelling community. The project aims to document cultural practices, gather community perspectives on current challenges, and co-develop policy and advocacy recommendations. The research process will be participatory and culturally sensitive. Community leaders stressed that this work is more than an academic effort; it is a crucial step in asserting their identity, protecting their traditions, and achieving recognition of their ancestral domain. By prioritizing community voices and lived experiences, we aim to ensure that the project results truly reflect the community’s needs and aspirations.
Ultimately, the study’s findings are expected to shape practical policy recommendations and sustainable development initiatives. The collected data will also play a key role in substantiating the ancestral domain claim and affirming the community’s legal and historical relationship to the land. As the collaboration progresses, both CPIPRD and the Maamot IP Community look forward to the positive effects this effort will have on promoting inclusive governance and long-term empowerment for the Ayta Abellings
