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[av_heading heading=’IPs are Filipinos, too, and have rights – CHR’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday, May 26, 2017
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ILOILO City – Indigenous peoples (IPs) are being discriminated, according to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
CHR is conducting a national inquiry on the human rights situation of indigenous peoples (IPs). The first leg is in this southern city (May 25 to 26).
“Filipino din sila. Kaya lang apparently there is discrimination in terms of implementation of laws when it comes to them,” said Atty. Gwendolyn Pimentel Gana, CHR focal commissioner on IP Rights.
Attendees on the first day of the inquiry yesterday included IP leaders from Aklan, Antique, Bohol, Bukidnon, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, and Palawan, and various stakeholders.
Among the concerns raised included land and the delivery of basic services.
“IPs do not have access roads to their lands. They don’t even enjoying the right to education…livelihood. We view IPs’ concerns through the lenses of human rights,” said Gana.
The rights of the IPs must be protected and uplifted, she stressed.
When addressing the IPs’ concerns, it is important also to consider their culture and traditions, added Gana.
“Kasi we do not understand that IPs hold their culture and traditions close to their hearts. Their identities will be erased if they don’t have their culture and traditions….When you address their problems, it must be through their eyes,” she said.
The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 is the primary law that deals with IPs and their concerns and issues.
Gana said there is a need to strengthen the IPRA to better address the IPs’ concerns.
LGU AS FIRST RESPONDER
The CHR commissioner noted the shortcomings of local government units (LGUs) in addressing IPs’ concerns, especially in the delivery of basic services.
LGUs are supposedly the “first responders”, said Gana.
“They should be held to account kasi constituents nila yon eh. Wala sanang problema ang national government kung ang local government mo nag-fu-function,” she stressed.
LGus have the duty to make sure that all the actions of concerned government agencies like the National Commission on Indigenous People benefit IPs, said Gana.
“If they are not doing their job, call their attention. We hold them accountable. We are like the guardian angels of the right holders. We have the right to demand from the duty bearers na do your job because it is our right to demand from you,” she added.
The Iloilo City leg of the CHR inquiry is the first of a number of inquiries.
“We are going to Mindanao and Luzon to do similar consultations,” said Gana.
CHR gave itself until the end of this year to complete the investigation and come up with a report.
“Our report would be more of a recommendatory document for government agencies on how to deal with IP-related problems,” Gana said./PN
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