The Indigenous Peoples (IP) community is hopeful that the newly enacted law (Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples’ Act) will pave the way for a more inclusive Bangsamoro where their voices and rights are safeguarded. (Hamdan Badrudin/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—The Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the Bangsamoro region expressed optimism and pride over the approval of the Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples’ Act (BIPA) of 2024, also known as the IP Code, by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) on Dec. 10.
The legislation, aimed at bolstering self-determination and self-governance among IPs, is being seen as a major step toward recognizing their rights to ancestral lands, cultural preservation, and autonomy.
Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) Melanio Ulama, a staunch advocate of the measure, underscored the significance of the IP Code in safeguarding the rights and heritage of the indigenous communities.
“The aspect of BIPA that will bring about change is that we can now strengthen our self-determination and self-governance, and the right to Fusaka Inged is now materialized,” Ulama said in an interview.
Fusaka Inged, or ancestral land, is central to the identity and existence of IPs, serving as a foundation for their livelihood, culture, and traditions.
Ulama emphasized that the recognition of ancestral lands by the IP Code will restore to the IPs what they have inherited from their forebears.
“The importance of recognizing the Fusaka Inged by the natives will return to the IPs the land inherited from their ancestors because the land is an extension of the life of the IPs. It is rooted in their livelihood, culture, tradition, and belief,” he noted.
Many IP leaders and advocates have long awaited this recognition. They see the passage of BIPA as a concrete realization of Moral Governance and inclusivity within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
With the IP Code, key rights of the IPs are now prioritized, including the rights to ancestral domain, self-governance, cultural integrity, and social justice.
“This enactment is a victory not just for IPs but for the whole Bangsamoro region. It complements the principle of leaving no Bangsamoro behind,” Ulama added.
BTA’s Committee on Indigenous Peoples Affairs Chair Ramon Piang described it as an enhanced version of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), tailored to the specific needs of the Bangsamoro’s indigenous population.
The IP community now looks forward to the full implementation of the code, hopeful that it will pave the way for a more inclusive Bangsamoro where their voices and rights are safeguarded.
The BIPA addresses long-standing challenges faced by IPs in BARMM through a legal framework designed to protect and empower communities such as the Téduray, Lambangian, Dulangan Manobo, and others.
As one of the priority measures under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) transition period, BIPA joins other key legislation like the Administrative, Education, Civil Service, Local Governance, and Electoral Codes in establishing BARMM’s governance structure. (Majid Nur/BIO)
