WHAT ARE ANCESTRAL DOMAIN TITLES AND ANCESTRAL LAND TITLES?

 WHAT ARE ANCESTRAL DOMAIN TITLES AND ANCESTRAL LAND TITLES?

Land ownership, in the indigenous context, does not begin with Torrens titles or cadastral surveys. It begins with memory. With ancestors. With the quiet understanding that land is not owned — it is belonged to. This is the idea behind Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT) and Ancestral Land Titles (CALT) under Republic Act No. 8371, the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997.

Both CADT and CALT recognize what the law calls native title — the concept that Indigenous Peoples (IPs) owned their lands long before colonizers arrived. The State is not granting these rights; it is merely recognizing that they already existed.

But the two titles are not the same.

A Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) is communal. It covers a large territory traditionally occupied by an entire Indigenous Cultural Community (ICC). This includes not only land, but forests, rivers, mountains, hunting grounds, burial sites, sacred areas, and even coastal waters. No individual owns a CADT. The title is issued in the name of the community — for example, “The Manobo Community of ___.” The domain is managed collectively, guided by an Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP) approved by the community itself.

A Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CALT), on the other hand, is closer to what we normally think of as land ownership — but with limits. It applies to specific parcels of land, such as farm lots or residential areas, and is issued to an individual, family, or clan. To qualify, the applicant must show continuous occupation or use of the land for at least 30 years before IPRA took effect. A CALT can exist within a CADT — a family farm inside a larger ancestral domain, for example.

The differences are important:

  • CADT: large, communal, non-transferable except within the community

  • CALT: specific plots, limited to IP individuals or families, highly restricted transfers

Yet they also share key protections. Both are issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). Both are generally exempt from real property taxes when used directly and exclusively by IPs. And both cannot be legally sold to non-members of the same indigenous group. Any such sale is void — and may even result in criminal liability.

Now, how are these rights protected today?

Beyond issuing titles, IPRA provides safeguards such as Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for projects affecting ancestral domains. No mining, dam, plantation, or large infrastructure project should proceed without community consent. In theory, this gives IPs veto power. In practice, enforcement remains uneven and controversial.

Is the government doing more than awarding titles?

Some agencies are. The NCIP coordinates with LGUs, DepEd, DOH, and DA to deliver education, health, and livelihood services. There are IP schools, scholarship programs, community health initiatives, and livelihood grants. But gaps remain — especially in remote areas where access, funding, and political will are thin.

Are ancestral domains like Indian reservations in the United States?

Not quite. Ancestral domains remain part of Philippine territory and subject to national law. However, IPs are allowed self-governance through customary laws and tribal councils, as long as these do not violate the Constitution or national statutes. Yes, they may form cooperatives and people’s organizations to manage resources and livelihoods.

Will cooperatives conflict with tribal councils?

They shouldn’t — if roles are clear. Tribal councils govern cultural and customary matters. Cooperatives handle economic activities. When these overlap without coordination, conflict arises. When aligned, they strengthen each other.

One final clarification: CADC and CALC — the older “claims” issued by DENR before 1997 — are not titles. They must be converted to CADTs or CALTs through the NCIP.

At its core, IPRA asks us to respect a different way of understanding land — not as a commodity to be sold, but as a living inheritance to be protected. The law exists. The titles exist. The real question is whether we have the courage — and consistency — to honor them.

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 11-30-2026

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