Mt Province towns select IP council representatives

By Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Municipalities of this province have chosen their Indigenous Peoples (IP) mandatory representatives in town legislative bodies. According to FlorenceFadchar, IPMR focal person of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Provincial Office here, except for Paracelis which has no IP representative yet, chosen IP representatives were John T. Challoy for Barlig; Tomas B. Tanggacan, Bauko; James B. Badongen, Sr. for Besao, Thomas  F. Longatan for Bontoc, Cornelio B. Tawaran, Natonin; Hilario Degway, Sabangan; Jimmy K. Galingan, Sadanga; Jaime G. Dogao, Sagada, and Ventura Bitot for Tadian.

The creation of IP representative in the legislative bodies is pursuant to Section 16, Chapter IV of Republic Act 8371 or The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 which states that “Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples  (ICCs/IPs)  have the right to participate fully, if they so choose, at all levels of decision-making in matters which may affect their rights, lives and destinies through procedures determined by them as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous political structures.                              Consequently, the State shall ensure that the ICCs/IPs shall be given mandatory representation in policy-making bodies and other local legislative councils.”

It is also provided in NCIP Administrative Order No. 1, S. 1998 that ICCs/IPs shall be provided mandatory representation in all policy making bodies and in local legislative councils. ICC/IP representation shall be proportionate to their population.

The powers, duties and functions of IP mandatory representatives shall be the same as that of the regular members of local legislative councils as provided in the Local government Code of 1991, and other applicable laws. However, IPs mandatory representatives shall focus on the representation of the collective interests of ICCs/IPs; ensure  support for the sustained constitution and operations of the Indigenous Peoples Consultative Body (IPCB) in their respective areas of jurisdiction; and maintain the development and practice of ICCs/IPs traditional leadership, titles and structures, justice systems, conflict resolution institutions, and peace building mechanisms and processes that are compatible with the national legal system and with internationally recognized human rights.

The term of office of IP mandatory representatives in the local legislative councils shall be for a period of three years from the date of assumption to office and can be re-indorsed for another term by the ICCs/IPs constituents but in no case shall the representative serve for more than three consecutive terms. The IP representative can be replaced anytime by the ICCs/IPs who selected him/her to the position in accordance with their local guidelines on recall/removal from office.