SELECTION for the next Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) in Benguet’s capital town is set on October 23 this year.

With the term of incumbent La Trinidad IPMR Pendon Thompson ending this year, Mayor Romeo Salda said the selection for the new IP representative will be based on the local guidelines set for the selection of IPMR.

Salda added a total of 96 representatives from the 16 barangays of the town are set to select the new IP representative.

Marcelo Abella was the first IMPR representative in the valley followed by Thompson who took his oath in 2017 after garnering 53 votes over his closest opponent.

In 2009, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) released guidelines for the IPMR and push local government units and communities the need to have an IP representative, completing the 10 members of the Municipal Council.

In the municipality, various Indigenous Peoples tribes reside which include the Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, and Kalanguya.

During the celebration of the Indigenous Peoples Month in the town on Tuesday with the theme: ‘Correcting Historical Injustices for Indigenous Peoples Rights and Welfare,’ elders asked Kabunyan (God) for the safety of all the stakeholders of La Trinidad not to be affected by Covid-19 pandemic, they also asked for the unity among officials and people of the valley.