SAN JOSE, Antique – For the first time, Antique got an indigenous peoples (IP) representative in a municipal council.
Elpedio Canja, a member of Iraynon Bukidnon, was sworn as Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) by Valderrama town mayor Mary Joyce Roquero on Aug. 26.
The Iraynon-Bukidnon IP group originally inhabited the upland areas deeply embedded in the thick forests of the Baloy-Madia-as Mountain Ranges. They practice a way of life and culture so distinct to them and they have their own unique belief system and education.
As he started his work in the Sangguniang Bayan of Valderrama, Canja said he would seek funds for the construction of an access road leading to their community in Barangay Culiat and the hiring of more IP teachers.
Canja represents 3,366 Iraynon Bukidnon in Valderrama.
Valderrama is the first town in Antique to have an IPMR.
Under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, Valderrama is qualified to have an IPMR because of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title in barangays San Agustin, Busog, and Culiat.
Canja was selected by four IP leaders when they convened on Jan. 21, 2021. His term will end in 2024.
Barangay Culiat, which leads to another IP village in Barangay Busog, is about 15 to 20 kilometers away from the town proper. Both barangays are producers of coffee, rice, corn, and banana.
Without an access road, residents need to hire a horse to haul their produce to the market at P200 to P300 per sack.
“For a sack of banana, they had to pay P200 for the hauling and could sell it only for P500 in the market, leaving the producer with P300 as income. If not sold, their products will just get spoiled,” Canja said.
“If we have the access road, the IPs could easily transport their products to the market,” he added.
Aside from the construction of access roads, Canja will also be urging the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Antique to hire more IP teachers.
DepEd Order Number 50, series of 2016 gives leeway for IPs who are graduates of education courses to be hired in schools implementing IP education.
To date, there are only about 15 teachers hired to teach in public schools in Valderrama. (PNA)
