Commission on IPs holds info campaign on NCIP guidelines

By Daniel B. Codamon

Sunday 8th of July 2012

KIANGAN, Ifugao, July 8 (PIA) --The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) chairperson Zenaida Brigida Pawid led the provincial information and education campaign on several important NCIP guidelines and on Cordillera autonomy, Thursday and Friday,at the Kiangan Youth Hostel here.

Attended by provincial officials, municipal officials, barangay officials, and several sectors of society, the forum aimed to increase awareness and understanding about NCIP, Republic Act 8371 or Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA) and a number of administrative orders (A.O.) of the NCIP which are crucial to indigenous peoples and also on the quest for regional autonomy in the Cordillera.

NCIP-Cordillera Administrative Region director Sancho Buquing gave the overview of the activity.

NCIP Community Development Management officer Crislyn Zarate talked about NCIP A.O. No. 1 pertaining to Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKPS), Customary Laws Research and Documentation Guidelines of 2012 while Community Affairs Officer discussed NCIP A.O. No. 2 regarding the General Guidelines on the Confirmation of Indigenous Political Structures and the Registration of Indigenous People’s Organizations.

NCIP A.O. No. 3 about the Revised Guidelines on Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and related processes of 2012 and NCIP A.O. No. 4 concerning the Revised Omnibus Rules on Delineation and Recognition of Ancestral Domains and Lands of 2012 were discussed by Zarate.

These guidelines, it was explained, were promulgated pursuant to the Constitution, the IPRA Law and other pertinent and applicable laws, international covenants, treaties, and declarations.

Ifugao provincial legal officer, lawyer Valdomoyd Ngipol also oriented the audience about the final draft of the proposed Organic Act on Cordillera Autonomy.(DBC-PIA CAR, Ifugao)