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Natural resources

Tadian Municipality Operationalizes Batangan System, Sets Precedent for Sustainable Forest Management in Cordillera Region

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The municipality of Tadian in Mountain Province has formalized the operationalization of the Batangan System, an indigenous practice of forest management, following the signing of its Indigenous Resource Management Plan (IRMP) on August 20, 2025. The Batangan System is recognized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as part of the Sustainable Traditional Indigenous Forest Resources Management Systems and Practices (STIFRMSP) Program. This traditional practice ensures the sustainable use of pine forests, meeting community needs while protecting the environment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Batangan System is an indigenous practice of forest management that has been recognized by the DENR as part of the STIFRMSP Program.
  • The system involves community-led decision-making on how many trees to cut, protect, and plant, ensuring the sustainable use of pine forests for community needs.
  • The Indigenous Resource Management Plan of Tadian is the first operational model of traditional and indigenous forest stewardship, setting a precedent for the entire Cordillera region.
  • The plan was made possible through a Joint Administrative Order between the DENR and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
  • The DENR-CAR Regional Executive Director, Engr. Paquito T. Moreno, Jr., emphasized the importance of the plan in reflecting the people's long-term vision and ancestral strategies to manage resources sustainably.
  • The municipality's Mayor, Constito S. Masweng, welcomed the new phase of collaboration to protect ancestral lands and ensure sustainability, highlighting the importance of preserving culture and heritage.
  • The Municipal IPMR, Robinson G. Pel-ingen, expressed the community's commitment to upholding the IRMP.
  • The Batangan System is one of the 20 STIFRMSP systems in the region, and four have been officially recognized.

Statistics:

  • 20 STIFRMSP systems are registered in the Cordillera region.
  • 4 of these systems, including the Batangan System, have been officially recognized and provided with implementing rules and regulations.
  • The Joint Administrative Order between the DENR and the NCIP facilitated the operationalization of the Batangan System.
  • The municipality of Tadian covers an area of [insert size] hectares.
  • The pine forests in the municipality cover approximately [insert percentage]% of the total area.
  • The Batangan System aims to promote the sustainable use of pine forests for the community's needs.

Sources:

  • Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - [insert link or exact format of original text]
  • National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) - [insert link or exact format of original text]
  • PIA-CAR, Mountain Province - [insert link or exact format of original text]
  • Albawaba (Albawaba.com) - [insert link or exact format of original text]

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