COUNCILOR Rodolfo M. Mande, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Davao City, will extend his service due to delays in selecting his successor.
Mande, a member of the Matigsalug tribe, confirmed in a media interview on Tuesday, January 7, 2024, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod that he has filed for a holdover status while awaiting the finalization of his successor.
“Karon nag file ko ug hold over until nga maplastar gyud ang sunod nga tribu kay ang Davao City dili siya magpalingkod og naay problema (I filed for a holdover until the next tribe selects their representative, as Davao City cannot afford any issues with leadership),” he said.
Mande’s term was originally set to end on January 10, 2025. However, he requested a one-month extension from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Davao Region (NCIP-Davao) earlier this week to allow more time for the selection process.
During his tenure, Mande passed key ordinances, including the institutionalization of scholarships for Indigenous Peoples (IP) and the establishment of an IP Shelter at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
According to Mande, his successor should come from the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe. However, due to an arrangement where the Bagobo-Klata tribe missed their turn, the next representative will be from the Bagobo-Klata. This selection is still undergoing validation.
The Bagobo-Klata tribe is expected to finalize their representative this month. Mande clarified that Bai Cherry Ann Codilla, the previous Bagobo-Klata representative, is no longer qualified, and a new representative will be selected.
The City IPMR is chosen on a rotational basis among 11 ethnolinguistic tribes: Ata, Bagobo-Klata, Bagobo-Tagabawa, Obu Manuvu, and Matigsalug, as well as Moro groups including Tausug, Sama, Iranun, Maguindanaoan, Maranao, and Kagan.
Codilla was previously disqualified by the NCIP due to insufficient genealogical qualifications. In June 2018, NCIP regional director Geroncio Aguio presented the negative revalidation results of Codilla’s genealogy to the city council.
The IPMR position is mandated by Republic Act 8371, also known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), which ensures the participation of Indigenous Peoples in decision-making processes. The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article XIV, Section 17, further recognizes the rights of Indigenous Peoples to preserve and develop their traditions, cultures, and institutions. RGP