By
Alpine L. KIlla
BONTOC,
Mountain Province – Indigenous People Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) in this
capital town were urged to continue upholding customary laws and practices and
be voice of the community concerning indigenous people’s rights.
This was the gist of the
message of lawyer Wilson Kalangeg, provincial director of the National
Commission on Indigenous People during the 4th quarter meeting of the IPMRs here
Dec 14 at the Bontoc municipal capitol.
Among accomplishments of
the IPMRs were their involvement in resolving conflicts either within the
community members or to neighboring and other community such as land disputes;
practice of customary rituals in wedding, death, thanksgiving, community traditional
practices and others; attendance to barangay and municipal council meetings,
seminars, trainings and orientation; and participation in community activities
such as clean-up drives and repair of public infrastructures damaged due to recent typhoons.
Kalangeg
cited IPMRs their powers, functions, duties and mandates.
Some of these include
intervention in cases where is advisable to be settled or resolved in the
barangay level before it will be filed in court, involvement in the solution of
boundary dispute, advocate protection of watersheds, ensure that programs and
projects are culture-sensitive and assist and participate in the documentation
of customary laws.
He added that despite
modernization, customary practices and laws should be respected and observed in
which the IPMRs have significant roles.
Kalangeg urged the IPMRs not to turn out of
their functions, duties and mandates as the community needs them.
“Your wisdom and
guidance as elders in the community is respected. For without you, the rights
of the IP communities will not be heard and recognized,” he remarked.
IPMRs in Bontoc have proved
that they continue to uphold customary laws and practices in their respective
villages.
This was reflected in
the reports of municipal IPMR Tomas Longatan
with IPMRs of Alab Oriente, Alab Proper, Balili, Bontoc Ili, Caneo,
Caluttit, Dalican, Guina-ang, Gonogon, Mainit, Samoki, Talubin, Tocucan and
Samoki.
Headed by the Bontoc
municipal government through the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan and the NCIP provincial
office, the quarterly meeting of the IPMRs is an avenue for the latter to
report their accomplishments, discuss IP issues and concerns and strengthen
camaraderie among IPMRs in the locality.
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