THE FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist will push for the further strengthening of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) to protect ancestral lands and ensure the direct participation of indigenous communities in governance.
According to Brian Poe Llamanzares, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) continue to face challenges in securing recognition and protection of their ancestral domains due to conflicting laws and policies currently in place.
Brian Poe, the first nominee of the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist, expressed concern over the plight of indigenous peoples during a recent gathering held in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
According to a report by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), more than 180 IP groups reside in the Philippines, each possessing a unique culture, language, and tradition. In Oriental Mindoro, the indigenous population numbers 91,940, accounting for 10.1% of the province’s 906,660 household population.
The main indigenous groups on the island of Mindoro are the Hanunuo Mangyan, Iraya Mangyan, and Buhid Mangyan.
On a national scale, indigenous lands and territories are often targeted for resource extraction, infrastructure projects, and large-scale agriculture, which lead to displacement, environmental degradation, and loss of livelihood, Poe explained.
He added that conflicting laws and government initiatives hinder indigenous land rights and place their livelihood and cultural identity at risk. Although the IPRA aims to recognize and protect the rights of indigenous peoples, its implementation remains incomplete and inconsistent, Poe noted.
The FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist also aims to secure direct representation of indigenous peoples in Congress and local government to ensure their voices and rights are heard.
“Indigenous peoples are often underrepresented or excluded from decision-making processes that affect their lives and territories, which hinders their ability to advocate for their rights and interests,” Poe said.
In a related report, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor urged his constituents to consider the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist as their top choice.
The governor’s wife, Hiyas Govinda Ramos-Dolor, is the third nominee of the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist. Poe also paid tribute to the governor’s efforts in implementing key initiatives and projects to improve every community in the island province of Mindoro.
