DILG Sec orders:Include IP reps in local gov’t units

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo ordered all provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays to have their own indigenous peoples representatives in their respective boards and councils so that they will be qualified to be given the Seal of Good Housekeeping and avail of the Performance Challenge Fund this year.

Speaking before over 1,000 delegates to the 9th International Igorot Consultation sponsored by the Igorot Global Organization (IGO) at the Baguio Country Club Thursday,

Robredo said one of the orders given by President AquinoI to the different Cabinet secretaries is to give utmost priority to the plight and concerns of the marginalized sectors, including the indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples in the different parts of the country.

“Gone are the days when indigenous peoples and the government stood at opposite sides,” Robredo told the delegates of the IIC, citing that “the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997, in particular, guarantees the rights of tribal peoples to ancestral domain, social justice and human rights.”

To date, Robredo disclosed only 570 local governments were able to comply with the mandatory rule of allowing IP representatives to their respective board and councils compared to the over 1,500 local governments.

“You (indigenous peoples) are important in good governance. You should be part of local councils as equals,” he said, adding that “your participation will ensure that local governments are better at strengthening partnership, building sustainable communities, meeting the challenges of climate change and upholding the rights of vulnerable sectors.”

According to him, DILG officials will be coordinating with their counterparts with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to come out with clear parameters on how to implement directive for local governments to follow so they willqualify for the Seal of Good Housekeeping Silver Grade.

“Who knows better how best to educate your children than you? Who knows better how to take care of your land the Igorot elders who have been tilling it for centuries! Robredo exclaimed.

Robredo said the IP mandatory representation and IP concerns are now included in the Silver level of the Seal of Good Housekeeping and lined to the availment of the Performance Challenge Fund by the different local governments.

“For any LGU to show that it is progressive, and to prove that it deserves recognition, that LGU must make sure that indigenous peoples are properly represented in governance,” he said, citing that “this is taking the advocacy higher than motherhood statements and making LGUs accountable for wider peoples’ participation.”

Robredo explained the primary reason why DILG Memorandum circular No. 2010-119 is national in scope is to ensure that the IP mandatory representation will be implemented across LGUs for the benefit of uplifting the welfare of the marginalized sectors and bring their concerns to the direct attention of concerned authorities.

Generally, the LGUs in the Cordillera are around 92-95 percent composed of indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples, thus, the need to include in the local policy-making bodies and legislative councils IP representatives who will be able to fight for the rights of indigenous peoples.