BORACAY ATI TRIBAL ORGANIZATION (BATO) OF BORACAY ISLAND, MALAY, AKLAN, PHILIPPINES

The Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO) is the first and only recognized Indigenous Peoples’ organization on Boracay Island, established in 1997 to unite the Ati community and advocate for their rights, culture, and ancestral land. Located in Ati Village, Barangay Manoc-Manoc, Malay, Aklan, the group promotes sustainable living while preserving traditional beliefs, values, and their native Inati language. Under the leadership of Chieftain Dela Supetran Justo, BATO has achieved major milestones, including securing ancestral domain and land titles, founding the Bihasin Heritage Center, and establishing the Tubuanan Learning Center for Ati children. The organization actively engages in environmental protection, livelihood programs, and cultural preservation, with members producing crafts, farming, and participating in eco-tourism projects. Despite their progress, the community still faces challenges such as racial discrimination, land disputes, and the loss of some ancestral rituals due to modernization. Supported by government agencies and NGOs, BATO continues to safeguard its people’s heritage through the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP).