The Ilocos Times

The law requires municipalities, cities and provinces to appoint representatives of Indigenous Cultural Minorities (ICMs) to the municipal, city and provincial councils if there are enough of them who are living within their jurisdictions. This is a wonderful provision in the law, but it seems that its implementation is not uniformly or consistently done all over the country. At the outset, I would say that the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are the agencies that should take the lead in implementing these laws, but it seems difficult to gather compliance data about which jurisdictions are abiding with the laws and which ones are not. Aside from the two NGAs and the three levels of LGUs, I believe that the role of NGOs in the overall implementation should also be recognized, including the many churches-based organizations (CBOs) that are helping the ICMs everywhere. Counting everyone, there should be a three-w...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—In a gathering of Indigenous Peoples here, various IP organizations and tribal councils in Region 1 crafted and signed a manifesto of support to the proposed federal form of government being pushed under President Rodrigo Duterte administration. According to Atty. Jesus Agbayani, Provincial Officer of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Ilocos Norte said they convened a dialogue among the leaders and members of the Indigenous Cultural Communities here for them to fully understand the basic provisions of the federal system of government particularly and how this will create on impact on the lives of IPs. “After a thorough study and exchange of ideas using our customary mode of decision-making, we are of the view that amendment of revision of the existing form of government is absolutely necessary to address the sad plight of the IPs and further strengthen the rights it already conferred to the ICCs/IPs,” said ...