INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’

UPLIFT.PROTECT.PRESERVE

BY: GIL PAULO B. GOMEZ

THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ACT OF 1997

Indigenous People (IP) refer to a group of people sharing common bonds of

language, customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits. These
terms shall likewise or in alternative refer to homogenous societies identified
by self-ascription and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as a
community on community-bounded and defined territory and who have
through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization,
become historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos.

TO UPLIFT THE LIFE OF THE IPs

1. To translate the provisions of IPRA LAW in the dialect/language that is

known to different tribes in line with their Indigenous knowledge. It will be
a great tool to promote and protect the welfare of IPs, this knowledge will
also passed down over generations and it is a major, untapped resource for
development.

2. To redefine and review the National Organisation of Indigenous People in

the Philippines that it should be represented by Tribal Leader of each tribe,
to lay down the problems and concerns of each tribe under the direct
supervision of the NCIP.

2. To formulate and implement policies, seminars and/or projects to develop

their skills, sports and talents executed by the NCIP.

a.) To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each tribe.

b.) To determine the potential of each tribe.

3. To give full access and opportunity to Quality Education to the IPs through
the help of National Commission on Indigenous People, Department of
Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority.
a.) Give scholarship program for deserving Indigenous person that should
be shouldered by the State.
b. To introduce the Alternative Learning System for other tribes that are far
from schools.

4. To ensure equal opportunity for employment, basic services and other

rights and privileges available to every member of the society.

a.) To have equal treatment by the Employer regardless of age, race, color,
sex, religion and etc…
b.) To have access with the basic services provided by private and public
sector of the society without any discrimination.

TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF IPs

To protect, promote and respect the rights and well-being of IPs as part of
our society.

1. To give opportunity to claim their ancestral domains, lands and waters

with the provision of “since time immemorial” and should be investigated by
the NCIP.

2. To practice their religious beliefs, customary law, self-governance and

empowerment but with some restrictions provided by the government.

3. To eliminate discrimination and implement rules and regulations and

adopts the provisions in Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People,
since the Philippines is one signatories of the said declaration.

4. To revise the penalty and imprisonment to the offenders of sexual

exploitation for the IPs being a Filipino citizen.

TO PRESERVE THE TRADITION/CULTURE OF THE IPs

The Philippines is being known for having different cultures and traditions,
the state should formulate and apply for a national plans and policies for the
said conservation.

1. To present to the society through social media the cultures and traditions
of each tribe.

2. To make a concrete and concise research of the historical background of

each tribe and to introduce it as a syllabus for Philippine History courses that
should be studied by Filipino students.

3. To sustain the crafts of each tribe by means of passing their knowledge

to the Indigenous Youth Sectors and should be practiced by the latter in
order to have a wider development of their own craft that which may be
useful in the near future of our society.