The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6 has placed on hold the application for an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by Hacienda Asia Plantations, Inc. (HAPI), citing its failure to secure consent from indigenous communities whose ancestral lands may be affected by the palm oil plantation.
Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) reported on Thursday, July 24, that EMB Region 6 Officer-in-Charge Vicente S. Losbañes confirmed that the ECC application of HAPI will remain on hold until the company complies with the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) requirement, as mandated under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) guidelines.
FPIC is a legal and ethical principle that requires the informed and voluntary agreement of indigenous peoples before any project affecting their land, resources, or rights can proceed.
The process ensures that consultations are conducted freely, without coercion, and that communities are given sufficient time and information to decide on matters impacting their lives.
The hold came in response to concerns raised by NICE over HAPI’s public scoping activity for its proposed 6,652.30-hectare oil palm project. NICE questioned the legitimacy of the process, citing the lack of meaningful engagement with affected IP communities.
Indigenous leaders earlier reported that some community members were pressured by individuals supporting the project, who argued that the IPs had no legal claim to the land due to the absence of formal recognition from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
However, the communities assert that under IPRA, their rights are valid regardless of NCIP-issued titles, as the law recognizes their identity and long-standing connection to the land.
EMB Region 6 made it clear that the ECC application will not move forward until all legal requirements—including a valid and inclusive FPIC process—are fully met.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a personal blog on Medium.