THROUGH the proposed shift of a federal state type of government the creation of economic zones will also address indigenous peoples' (IPs) welfare, said an official authority.
“On the question on how we can maximize the participation of IPs is actually through the ecozones, through agri-ecozones and regular ecozones. As of the moment, if the current design of government is centralized, then their customs and practices cannot directly participate,” Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) public relations officer Adrian Tamayong said during a media forum on Wednesday, August 29, 2018, at Habi at Kape, Abreeza Mall, Davao City.
Tamayong added through the creation of these ecozones in the proposed shift to federalism then, these ecozones will be fitted in the cultural practices of the IP groups.
“They can always produce because they have already their own systems,” Tamayong said.
In previous reports, Tamayong said the intention of federalism is seen through maximizing resources in the regions. In this way, he added, regions can decide for themselves on how to manage these resources because they are ones who will also be directly affected.
During the media forum at Habi at Kape, IP officials from Indigenous Peoples Conference of the Philippines (IPCP) said they actively support the federalism shift of the country’s government.
“Kami sa organization sa indigenous peoples sa pagkarun ginasupporthan namo ang federalism, ug kami pud ga supporta pud mi nga naay pud mi amoang kaugalingon nga IP federal region (We, from the organization of indigenous peoples, support federalism, and we also support that we would also have our own IP federal region)” IPCP president Datu “Amarillo” Marcelo A. Alejo, Jr. said during the media forum.
Alejo added in this way, the representation of the IP would still be relevant in the proposed federal state. (GAD)