IN celebration of the 28th anniversary of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), the Akbayan Reform Bloc on Wednesday filed a set of legislative measures aimed at strengthening the protection, participation, and welfare of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) across the country.
The bills, principally introduced by Akbayan Partylist Representative Dadah Kiram Ismula, hailing from the Sama Bangingi tribe in Zamboanga City, alongside Representatives Chel Diokno and Percival Cendaña, and Dinagat Islands Representative Kaka J. Bag-ao, aim to strengthen the services in education and social protection programs for indigenous peoples.
The Akbayan ang Katutubo legislative package includes:
House Bill No. 5705: AN ACT DECLARING OCTOBER 29 OF EVERY YEAR AS NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY, A SPECIAL NON-WORKING HOLIDAY.
*House Bill No. 5704: AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.
*House Bill No. 5703: BAKWIT WELFARE BILL or The Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Act
*House Bill No. 5712 The Katutubong Guro Act: AN ACT ESTABLISHING SCHOLARSHIP FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PURSUING TEACHER EDUCATION, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.
“Ang mga katutubo natin ang tagapangalaga ng ating kalikasan at kultura. Kaya’t may tungkulin ang komunidad natin na siguraduhing may graduate at mga guro ang bawat tribu natin,” Rep. Dadah Ismula said of the Katutubong Iskolar and Katutubong Guro Bills.
“28 years matapos isabatas ang IPRA, marami pang kailangan gawin ang gobyerno para mapalakas ang karapatan at pagkilala sa ating mga katutubo. Ang Akbayan ang Katutubo bills ay pagsisiguro na nabibigyan ng pagpapahalaga ang ating mga indigenous peoples,” Rep. Ismula said.
“Sa panahon ng sakuna at conflict, nalalagay sa panganib ang ating mga kababayan, kasama ang mga katutubo sa landgrabbing, diskriminasyon, at kawalan ng mga serbisyo. Ang Bakwit Welfare Bill ang panangga ng ating mga kababayan dahil hindi dapat casualty ang human rights and welfare sa ating komunidad,” Rep. Ismula said.
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