Agta Palanan Organisation was created in 2024 aiming a better understanding and decisions on the proposed projects relate to their people. The APO (Agta Palanan Organisation), is becoming a powerful toool, seeking to protect their rights, culture, and future. One of the primary reasons for forming such an organization is the preservation and revitalization of cultural heritage. Through a tribal structure, communities can safeguard their language, spiritual beliefs, traditions, and ancestral knowledge, ensuring these are passed down to future generations.Another key motivation is the pursuit of self-governance. This is where formal government recognition grants the tribe legal autonomy or access to additional rights and resources. In many cases, it also enables the community to participate in political processes or negotiations with state authorities and other entities.
Economic development is another crucial function. By forming a tribal organization, communities can establish businesses, manage communal assets, and create jobs for their members. This can lead to long-term financial sustainability and improved living standards.
Furthermore, a tribal organization can offer better access to government funding, social programs, and services such as education, healthcare, and housing. It becomes a legal body through which the community can apply for grants or develop infrastructure tailored to their needs. It serves as a platform for advocacy, enabling the tribe to protect its interests, speak with one voice, and build alliances with other communities or organisations.
The creation of a tribal organisation is a multifaceted decision aimed at empowerment, preservation, and progress. It helps communities reclaim control over their destiny while strengthening the bonds that tie them together.
Mandy Plata... the APO coordinator. "It is like killing one lion everyday"
The "Dream Team" of UZH, ISU, PNU and APO. Young adults working together, changing their future working on their present... Lots of projects being developed by them!!!
To support the APO, all projects developed in partnership with the University of Zurich give priority to employing Agta individuals.
In addition, after compensating all workers, UZH deposits an extra 5% of the total labor cost into the APO account. This contribution is intended to be used at the discretion of the APO. Currently, the following projects are being developed with APO involvement:
1. Census 2025: Over a period of three months, the “Dream Team” visited all Agta communities to register individuals and collect vital information. The team also mapped important areas, including sanctuaries, water sources, coconut and rice farms, rattan plantations, and more.This data has been analyzed and shared with the NCIP (National Commission on Indigenous Peoples) and the APO. Other government agencies will also have access to this information, which is being integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) for broader planning and support.
2. Cacao Agroforestry:
To help protect the forests of the Sierra Madre from invasive activities such as logging, farming, and mining, this initiative promotes the planting of cacao trees using agroforestry methods. By integrating cacao cultivation into the forest ecosystem, the Agta can sustainably harvest cacao pods, creating a new source of income without harming the environment.
Leaders from the APO visited established cacao farms and chocolate factories to learn more about this approach. They are now convinced of its potential and are actively helping to identify suitable areas for implementing cacao agroforestry.
1.Rey (APO President) and Jimmi (APO Vice) in a trip with other APO members to Echague, the 2. Meeting at Cacao Producers of Cagayan Valley. 3. Mandy working on seedlings
3. Cacau Agroforestry Nursery:
Over the course of six months, APO and the University of Zurich (UZH) joined forces to establish a dynamic agroforestry nursery — not only for cultivating cacao but also as a living research hub for students from ISU Palanan. With a capacity to produce up to 20,000 seedlings annually, the nursery will be fully dedicated to cacao cultivation until September 2025.
Importantly, 20% of the space is reserved for student-led research, creating hands-on opportunities to explore cacao growth and climate adaptation. Two exciting research projects have already been submitted by ISU students, approved by APO, and are ready to launch — with equipment currently being acquired to bring them to life. (You can explore both projects via the links below.)
This is where academic collaboration meets grassroots empowerment — a powerful example of indigenous-led projects and academic institutions uplifting one another.
Let me know if you want this to sound even more energetic or lean more toward academic or promotional language!
PROJECT 01_25: Soil Samples and Analises
PROJECT 002_25: Cacau Agroforestry (2 varieties)
Department of Evolutionary Anthropology
