GLA “Forest for a Just Future” wraps up in Rizal, Palawan:

Women’s groups formalize, youth find their voice, and communities stand firm for ancestral land and forests.

Puerto Princesa City — August 27, 2025. Over ten days of community-led consultations (July 19–28, 2025), Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LCs) in Sitio Tagpas (Brgy. Latud) and Sitio Tagbitok (Brgy. Taburi), Rizal, Palawan gathered to take stock of what changed—and what’s next—as ELAC closes its Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) “Forest for a Just Future” engagement in the area.

Across small group discussions and on-site meetings, 75 community members—68 women and 7 men—reflected on forest governance, rights, and livelihoods. ELAC also facilitated 11 in-depth interviews with community leaders and members, and heard from at least five community formations (including IP women’s groups, youth, and traditional leaders).

“We used to be shy. Now we can stand up in barangay meetings and talk about our forests and water,” one young participant shared during the closing circle—echoing a theme heard throughout the sessions.

What communities say changed

• Confidence and voice. Women and youth describe a shift from silence to participation. Trainings, youth camps, and repeated mentoring led to people speaking in assemblies and barangay consultations—especially on matters related to water sources, sacred sites, and food security.
• From informal to recognized. With ELAC’s accompaniment, women’s groups advanced their DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) registration processes—an important step toward securing a legal identity, accessing livelihood support, and inclusion in government or partner programs. (Several organizations’ papers are in the final checking/second-revision stage with DOLE Palawan.)
• Rights awareness—and use. Community members now reference CADT (Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title) and ADSDPP (Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan) more fluently. FPIC-aligned participation in barangay and CADT spaces is becoming the norm in many conversations, not an exception.

Defending forests, clarifying facts

Consultations also became a venue to de-risk misinformation. During one meeting, participants mentioned hearing that Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) would soon be closing. ELAC’s team clarified the circulating report: **it is Coral Bay Nickel Corporation that has publicly indicated a planned closure timeline—**for 2028—not RTNMC. Grounding advocacy in verified facts helps communities choose the right tactics and allies, and reduces the risk of backlash or confusion.

Communities reiterated opposition to mining expansion in areas that affect forests and watersheds in PALATA (Rizal). Many framed their stance not as an absolute rejection of change, but as a practical defense of water, soil, and the continuity of cultural lifeways.

Challenges that remain

• Red-tagging and mistrust. Several participants reported attempts to discredit community organizations and create division—especially in barangays where local actors favor extractive projects. This can deter participation and put leaders at risk.
• Safety and cohesion. Some families face pressure when they voice concerns. Sustained accompaniment—particularly for women and youth officers—remains essential to maintaining cohesive and safe groups.

Community recommendations

• Keep the mentoring cadence. Periodic visits, refresher rights sessions, and officer coaching sustain momentum.
• Continue rights-based IEC. Simplify CADT/ADSDPP/FPIC modules and bring them to sitio assemblies; keep materials visual and language-appropriate.
• Assess security risks. Work with barangay councils and IP structures to map risks and set practical protocols for meetings, documentation, and travel.
• Link legal recognition to livelihoods. Once DOLE registration is completed, help groups connect to forest-friendly livelihood programs (e.g., value-added crops close to home), so governance gains show up as food on the table.

What’s next for ELAC

While the GLA project phase closes, ELAC will continue to support people-centered forest governance in southern Palawan—bridging communities to services, strengthening IP women and youth leadership, and advancing policies that keep watersheds and sacred places intact. As communities said during the closing circle: the real measure of the work is voice, safety, and water—and those must endure.