UPHOLDING IP RIGHTS TO SELF-GOVERNANCE AND EMPOWERMENT!
Porac, Pampanga – Newly selected Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representation (IPMR) to the Municipal and five Barangay Councils took their oath of office before Hon. Jaime Capil, the Local Chief Executive of the Municipality of Porac.
Section 16 of RA 8371 provides 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.
IPMR selection is further sanctioned under the NCIP Administrative Order No. 3, Series of 2018 or the “Revised National Guidelines for the Mandatory Representation of Indigenous Peoples in Local Legislative Councils and Policy-making Bodies”.
Witnessing the oath taking were representative of the Department of Interior and Local Government, and officers of the CADT 123 IPS-IPO.
