Photo by Comenei Ali
COTABATO CITY— Ministers Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo and Melanio Ulama of the ministries of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA), respectively, signed on Wed. July 12, a Joint Memorandum Circular which will allow the mandatory participation of Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) in the local legislative councils and policy making bodies.
The circular provides the local government units, indigenous cultural communities, and BARMM ministries and agencies, with the guidelines for the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) in the Bangsamoro region.
Minister Ulama said that this is a major milestone for the IP communities as it will strengthen their participation in the government.
“Ang IPMR ay mag-uumpisa sa barangay, sa municipal, provincial then papunta sa region. Sila yung magre-presenta sa mga IP communities,” Melanio said.
“Malaking bagay at tulong ito sa mga IPs. Ang ating gobyerno (Bangsamoro government) ay tinutulungan ang mga IP community na i-preserve ang kultura naming nang sa ganoon ay makilala, matulungan at magkaroon ng tunay na kapayapaan at kaunlaran,” he added.
For one to qualify as an IPMR, the requirements are: a bona fide member of IPs community he/she seeks to represent; able to write and read; physically, mentally, and morally fit; natural born Filipino citizen; at least 18 years of age on the date of assumption; and other qualifications that the community may prescribe in their ICC/IP local guidelines.
Among the duties and functions of the IPMR are to help in formulating the IP agenda with the community, conduct regular meetings and consultations with all IPs in his area of jurisdiction in coordination with the IPS/Council of Leaders/Elders, facilitate provisions for financial support for the implementation of the IP Agenda, and many others.
“Today’s joint memorandum circular puts emphasis on the ability of IPs to participate in an important branch of government, the level of LGUs, and that is the Sanggunian,” Minister Sinarimbo said.
“Kami [MILG] yung nagsu-supervise ng mga LGUs natin sa region. ‘Yung indigenous peoples, lalo na ang MIPA, would ensure the processes na in-adapt nila para doon sa pagpili (ng representative) ay masunod— once na nasunod, yun ang isa-submit nila sa mga LGUs then we will certify na sila yung napili ng IPs,” he added. (Myrna S. Tepadan/BIO)
