THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is eying to launch an Indigenous People (IP) Human Rights observatory which will become a mechanism for regular monitoring of IP rights in the country.
CHR focal commissioner on IP rights Gwendolyn Pimentel Gana, in an interview, said that the IP human rights observatory will house the results of the IP situationer after the series of public hearings they have conducted.
"Itong (This) IP rights observatory will be housed at CHR. This is where we will put all the data that we will need on the needs of the IPs, their rights, statistics and the like," she said.
She added that it will also be a venue for the government, civil society organizations, and different IP leaders to come up with solutions on problems that the IPs face.
On Thursday, the CHR conducted its fourth leg of public hearings on IP rights at El Bajada Hotel, participated by IPs from Davao Regions and Soccsksargen.
Invited tribal leaders include those from Bagobo Tagabawa, Manobo/Blaan, Dibabawon, Mansaka, Mandata, Tagakaulo, Blaan, Ata-Manobo-Dibabawon, Kalagan, Bagobo, Ata, Obu-Manobo, Bagobo-Klata, Sama, T'boli, Dulangan Manobo, Arumanon Manuvu, Matigsalug, Teduray, Bla-an, Lambiagan, Band'laan.
During the inquiry, lack of implementation on the Indigenous People's Rights Act in their area especially in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was raised.
Killings of IPs, IP scholarships, and difficulty in the compliance of no home birth policy were among the issues raised by IP leaders.
Gana said that all gathered information from Thursday's inquiry will be submitted to agencies concerned.
"Nagkaroon po tayo ng inquiry sa iba't-ibang parte ng Pilipinas yung mga areas kung saan merong IPs sa Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao para alamin kung ano ba ang problema. Pagkatapos we will come up with a report and recommendations sa mga iba-ibang ahensya na makakatugon sa mga problema ng mga IPs (We had an inquiry in different parts of the country, in areas where there are IPs, in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, to identify their problems then we will come up with a report and recommendations to different agencies that can address their concerns)," she said.
She said all the data gathered will form as a foundation of the observatory.
"Hopefully by the first quarter of next year, we can start because we already have the data we need to establish for an observatory," she said.
"Marami pa 'yung mga data na ibibigay sa atin ng mga IP organizations mismo. Yung data maibibigay ng government. Yung ibang resource persons are supposed to give us data so lahat ng ito iha-house natin sa observatory kasi it will be the depository ng iba't-ibang klaseng dokumento or statistics. Ito na yung magiging main resource whereby all statistics, documents will be gathered and we can come up with the holistic approach on the needs and the problems of the IPs," she said, adding that the observatory will be open for all.
She also said that aside from the IPs, they will also make an observatory for children, migrant workers, evacuees.