BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing the celebration of the August 9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in the city and making it an annual activity of the local government.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Arthur Alad-iw stated for the purpose of the measure, a committee will be created to coordinate the activities of the said celebration.
The committee shall be composed of the City Mayor as Chairperson, representative from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) as Vice Chairperson with the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), in the City Council, representative from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Chairpersons of the City Council Committee on Education, Culture and Historical Research, Committee on Tourism, and Special Events, Parks and Playgrounds, Committee on Barangay Affairs, Committee on Youth and Sports, the City Tourism Officer, The city Health Officer, the President of the local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and IP representative from Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Abra, Kalinga, Apayao and other indigenous peoples from the other provinces who are residents of the city.
The ordinance outlined that the activities of the IP Day celebration shall include forums on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Peoples rights Act (IPRA), free prior and informed consent (FPIC) process, intellectual property rights, land rights, language, self-determination, traditional knowledge, treaty rights, culture, education, health, human rights, environmental protection and panel discussions on other issues affecting both the indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples such as, but not limited to, socio-economic development.
Other proposed activities include free medical and dental services, free legal services, cultural presentations showcasing indigenous traditions, customs, music and arts and such other activities deemed necessary.
The ordinance stipulated all activities in relation to the celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples shall be included in the calendar of activities of the city every year.
Under the proposal, the amount of P300,000 shall be appropriated for the said celebration and shall be included in the annual budget of the city to ensure the regular conduct of the event.
On December 23, 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples shall be observed on the 9th of August annually to recognize the first meeting in Geneva in 1982 of the UN working group on indigenous populations of the sub-commission on the promotion and protection of human rights.
It was widely observed that the annual celebrations that followed after the historic decision significantly strengthened international cooperation in solving problems faced by the world’s indigenous peoples, especially in areas such as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment and social and economic development.
By Dexter A. See