City officials recently urged all barangays in the city to select and install their respective Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMRs) on or before September 2024.
Under Resolution No. 42, series of 2024, local legislators stated that the dates of the IPMR include the goal to execute and establish the necessary mechanisms to guarantee the realization of indigenous peoples rights which include due representation in the barangay level by September 2024 before the celebration of the annual IP month in October.
The council tasked the Liga ng mga Barangay – Baguio City chapter to assist in the conduct of a public consultation to all punong barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in the city for information dissemination and education on the selection of IPMRs.
Section 16 of Republic Act (RA) 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) stated that the indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) IPs have the right to participate fully of the if they so choose at all levels of decision-making in matters which may affect their rights, lives, and destinies through procedures determined by them as well as to maintain and develop their indigenous political structures.
Further, IPMR selection is reinforced under the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Administrative Order No. 1, series of 2021 or the revised national guidelines for the mandatory representation of IPs in local legislative councils and policy-making bodies as amended.
The council affirmed its commitment that every barangay in the city will have its own IPMR effective this year so that the city can continue to ensure the full participation of ICCs or IPs in matters affecting their development.
Based on the data obtained from the local government, only eight barangays in the city have their respective IPMRs, namely Bakakeng Central, Camp 7, Happy Hallow, Irisan, Loakan Apugan, Loakan Liwanag, Loakan Proper, and Lucnab.
Copies of the approved resolution will be transmitted to the NCIP, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), other related offices and all the city’s 128 barangays in the city for their information, guidance, ready reference and further needed action. By Dexter A. See