IPs aspire for recognition of their rights, calls for passage of bill

TAWI-TAWI — Indigenous peoples (IPs) in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi anticipate the passage of BTA Bill No. 273, also known as the Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples Development Act (BIPDA) of 2024, as it is step towards recognition and empowerment.

The proposed IP code aims to ensure that IPs within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) receive an equitable share of revenues generated from the exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources within their ancestral domains.

Under the proposed law, IPs and their communities will have a guaranteed share of revenues, with a minimum of 10% directly provided by the Bangsamoro Government.

Atty. Raissa Jajurie, who presided over the hearing in Tawi-Tawi emphasized that this revenue sharing will directly benefit the local IP communities, empowering them to fund their Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plans.

IP representatives from the BARMM’s island provinces stressed that the IP code is much more than just acknowledgment; it is an important opportunity for indigenous communities to self-govern according to their unique customs, practices, and culture.

IPs want to ensure that their legacy and identity are preserved for future generations by managing their resources responsibly within their recognized ancestral territories.

Moreover, the BIPDA will solidify IP rights to own, develop, and manage their ancestral domains and the natural resources.

The committee conducted simultaneous public hearings in different island provinces, with Member of Parliament Mohammad Kelie Antao leading discussions in Basilan and MP Froilyn Mendoza in Sulu.

The committee will convene in the following weeks to deliberate on the comments and recommendations gathered during these public hearings, further advancing the cause of indigenous empowerment within the BARMM. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)