AFTER more than three years, the Indigenous People's Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of the 19th City Council is no longer vacant as Peg-Buyyahon Rodolfo M. Mande of the Matigsalug Tribe sworn in.
In a Facebook post, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio administered the oath to Mande as IPMR at the Davao City Hall on Monday morning, January 10.
Duterte-Carpio clarified, however, that the appointment of Mande does not signify that the petition of Bagobo Klata tribe representative Cherry Ann Codilla has already been resolved.
"Wala pa siya na-resolve. Ongoing pa ang ilahang problem sa ilahang tribo (It has not yet been resolved. There is still an ongoing problem within the tribe)," the mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) refused to release the certificate of affirmation (COA) for Codilla's IPMR post at the Davao City Council in 2018 due to her lack of mandatory genealogical qualification.
Codilla was selected by the Bago Klata tribe to take the IPMR post after the term of Halila Sudagar ended in May 2018.
Sudagar was re-installed in June 2018 via a hold-over status by the NCIP after it denied Codilla the COA. She eventually cut her extended-term and decided to run for city councilor of the second district but lost. Thus, the position for the IPMR became vacant since 2019.
NCIP then called for a second selection process and Datu Demetrio Bolo was chosen but he was never confirmed as IPMR.
"Fortunately, we have a new regional director for NCIP, si Atty. Mamukid and he was able to secure the permission sa tribo na he will proceed with the next tribe in line to select the IPMR (Fortunately, we have a new regional director for NCIP, si Atty. Mamukid and he was able to secure the permission from the Bagobo Klata tribe to proceed with the next tribe in line to select the IPMR)," said the mayor who was talking about lawyer Michael Mamukid.
Duterte-Carpio said she emphasized to Mamukid the need to have an IPMR at the City Council when the latter assumed power as the new NCIP regional director.
"Finally, after all that wait and delay na mag-take oath atoang IPMR, we now have a new IPMR. He was selected sa ilahang tribo Matigsalug under the supervision of the NCIP (Finally, after all that wait and delay for an IPMR to take an oath, we now have a new IPMR. He was selected from their Matigsalug tribe under the supervision of the NCIP)," she said.
The IPMR will chair the City Council's Committee on Indigenous Peoples and pass resolutions and ordinances for the benefit of the indigenous peoples (IP) community. One of its duties and responsibilities include being the chair of the committee on indigenous peoples and passing resolutions and ordinances for the benefit of the IP community.
On Tuesday, January 11, Mande attended his first regular session.
The newly-installed IPMR said he will be advocating policies and agenda for the welfare of IP in the next three years, including education, protection of ancestral domain, and preservation of culture and tradition.
“My ascend to the position is not the end, but it's just the beginning of my duty to serve my fellow IPs, or should I say to my fellow Dabawenyos,” Mande said.
SunStar Davao is still trying to reach out to NCIP and Codilla on this matter.