Advisers

Christine A. Alinabo

Discipline

Indigenous Studies

Abstract

This study evaluated the environmental-preservation practices of the Dumagat Remontado. Indigenous communities play an important role in sustainable environmental management but face challenges such as external intrusion, limited resources, and insufficient institutional support. Understanding their practices and constraints is important for developing inclusive and sustainable conservation strategies. The study used a descriptive-quantitative research design. Survey questionnaires were administered to a sample of 50 Dumagat Remontado residents of Sitio Wawa, Barangay San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal, to document environmental-preservation efforts and encountered challenges. Reported preservation practices included protecting sacred grounds and ancestral domains, reforestation and tree planting, performing rituals or offerings before using natural resources, waste reduction and management, and soil conservation. Major barriers included insufficient resources and funding, intrusion by outside interests, inadequate policy and legislative support, and pressure on natural resources and agricultural lands from extraction and development projects. Although the community contributed to environmental sustainability, respondents reported inadequate protection and recognition. The findings highlight the importance of Dumagat Remontado ICCs/IPs in sustainable environmental management. The researchers recommend engaging young people in community conservation, adopting a multifaceted response to the community’s challenges, involving Indigenous Peoples in policy formulation, and strengthening enforcement of laws that protect ancestral lands.

Keywords

Sustainability, cultural sensitivity, indigenous peoples, dumagat remontado, environmental preservation, traditional knowledge, traditional methods