PORAC town has sworn in an Aeta as municipal councilor representing the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Sector.
Edwin Abuque was sworn in as IP Sectoral Representative by Mayor Condralito dela Cruz on Monday.
The new ex-officio member is an incumbent three-termer Barangay Captain of Camias.
Abuque fills in the vacancy for an Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative (IPMR) in this mountain town that covers several Aeta barangays. The IPMR is in accordance with the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (Ipra) on the representation of IPs in the local legislative functions.
Under the Local Government Code, there should be a sectoral representative in the Sangguniang Bayan coming from the women, urban poor and the IPs.
Abuque’s entry into the Sangguniang Bayan of Porac means added representation for the IP sector of Porac. He is expected to raise issues and concerns of the IP sector in the legislative level of the town and also represent them in issues and matters that may affect the local IP communities.
Section 6 of the Ipra of 1997 provides that the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) and IPs shall be provided mandatory representation in all policy-making bodies and in local legislative councils.
ICC/IP representation shall be proportionate to their population and shall have the same privileges as the regular members of the legislative or policy-making bodies. Their representative shall be qualified and chosen by their community.
The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall come up with appropriate measures to ensure the full participation of ICCs/IPs in matter affecting their development.
Such measures include the provision of technical assistance to develop ICC/IP representative’s knowledge of traditional socio-political systems, customary laws, justice system and skills in interfacing with non-IP governance and policy making.