Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representation in the Local Legislative Councils: Status, Challenges and Trajectories

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of the Mandatory Representation of the Indigenous People of the Philippines. At present, the indigenous peoples and other minority groups are under-represented in the country’s local legislature. This paper gives rise to the rights of indigenous peoples’ mandatory representation in all local government sanggunians at all levels and that IPMR shall be selected in accordance with the guidelines adopted and promulgated by themselves. The Mandatory Representatives represent the general concerns and welfare of all the ICCs/IPs. The study used descriptive research method and seeks to determine the status of the IPMR to describe the status of social, economic, cultural and political development initiated by them, it also seeks to identify challenges related to IPMR’s political isolation, economic marginalization and socio-cultural orientation hindering effectiveness of their performance and also to determine future trajectories of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representation. The study was derived from the IPMR of a patriarchal tribe known as Dumagat from Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija and the IPMR OF Palayan City composed of the tribes: Aeta, Applay, Bago, Kankanaey, Kalanguya, Dumagat and Ibaloi. The study found out that IPMRs are facing several challenges that hamper their performance and the study showed the need to LGUs to strictly comply with the mandate of RA 8371 recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative.