MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly mentioned that he will declare the entire island of Boracay a land reform area for the benefit of its original inhabitants.
Duterte earlier justified this decision he saying wants the Boracay “natives” and not business owners to benefit from the land.
READ: Duterte: Boracay 'natives' can make money by selling lots after land reform
In previous speeches, the president, however, said the Mangyans — the indigenous people of Mindoro — as the beneficiaries of Boracay.
The original inhabitants of Boracay are actually the Ati people, some of whom live in the aptly named Ati Village in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.
Environment OIC Undersecretary Maria Paz Luna last April said Proclamation 1064, which reclassifies land on the island, awarded the Atis 2.1 hectares of land there.
She added that of the 600 hectares of land on Boracay, about 300 hectares have already been titled. The titles on those are still being verified.
Luna said the IPs of Boracay built a village there and were granted Certificate of Ancestral Domain titles. This is in accordance with Republic Act No. 8371, The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act Of 1997.
Get to know the Ati people in this video:
— With research by Philstar.com intern Ali Ian Marcelino Biong; Video by Efigenio Toledo IV