SP COMMITTEE ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACCEPTS IP MANDATORY REPRESENTTIVE TO THE SANGUNIANG PANGLUNGSOD AND ENACT ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS

By Tito Natividad Fiel

Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong in the IP Committee hearing

ILIGAN CITY – Office of the President through the Commission on Filipino Language urged Wednesday the City Council here to allow the Higaonon Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod of this city to assume its post as soon as possible. Dr. Lorna Flores, Commissioner of the Commission on Filipino Language told the Committee on Indigenous People of the Sanguniang Panglungsod here in a committee hearing Wednesday afternoon that, the selection process has been done and duly certified by the National Commission on Indigenous People Regional Director. “What should be discussed now is when the chosen Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod of Iligan City assume its post as ex-officio member of the said body not the process and legality because the agency concerned on this matter has already certified the authenticity of the process”, Commissioner Flores asserted. Ms. Flores is also a Higaonon by tribe which a retired professor of the Mindanao State

Datu Sumilao of Rogongon supports Datu So-ong

University –Iligan Institute of Technology which become a commissioner of the Commission on Filipino Language under the Office of the President. Department of Interior and Local Government of ILigan City Director Emilio Rana affirmed the statement of Commissioner Flores that this law of Mandatory Representation under the Republic Act 8371 or Indigenous Peoples Rights Act should be implemented. Lawyer Foster N. Anayron, DILG Region 10 legal officer has corroborated the opinion and statements from the office of the President. Datu Arturo Cunto, Tribal Chieftain of Barangay Rogongon, this city asked the committee when their Indigenous People Mandatory Representative Datu Diamla Rolando So-ong be allowed to assume his post as ex-officio member of the Sanguniang Panglungsod of Iligan City. City Councilor Emanuel Salibay, Chairman of the Committee on Indigenous People of the city council here said, if he only one to decide he would allow the IP mandatory representative to assume his post immediately, but it needs to convince his fellow councilors to get the majority. “This public hearing aims to determine the authenticity of the documents being presented by the chosen Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod Datu Diamla Rolando So-ong to iron out the possible loopholes but supportive to the cause of Higaonon Tribes”, Councilor Salibay stressed. But at the end of the hearing, the Committee on Indigenous People of the Sanguniang Panglungsod accepted the IP Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod of ILigan and will enact ordinance for appropriation. In a follow up interview when the hearing was adjourned, Committee chair Councilor Salibay said that he would submit report next week session of the Sanguniang Panglungsod and push for the approval of their resolution that will allow the said IP representative to assume his post immediately. Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong, an IP Mandatory Representative has lauded the action of the Committee on Indigenous People that accepting the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungosd and will enact ordinance to appropriate budget for said office. He said the challenge now is in the hands of the Sanguniang Panglungsod to adopt the resolution of the Committee on Indigenous People headed by City Councilor Emanuel Salibay and allow him to assume his post immediately. In Section 22, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the state recognizes and promotes the rights of the Indigenous Cultural Communities within the framework of national unity and development”. The Republic Act 8371 known as the Indigenous Peoples Right Act of 1987 explicitly provides that the Indigenous Cultural Communities have the right to participate if they chose in all levels of decision-making in matters

City Councilor Salibay left and Region 10 DILG legal officer right

which may affect their rights, lives and destinations. It mandates that the state shall ensure that the Indigenous People shall be given mandatory representation in policy-making bodies and other legislative councils. The Indigenous People Higaonon of Iligan City chose Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong on July 17, 2013 as their Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod of Iligan City with the presence of the authorized representative from the National Commission on Indigenous People. On September 15, 2014, National Commission on Indigenous People Region 10 Director Roberto L. Almonte duly certified the said process and let the Chief Executive and the members of the legislative body know by sending notices. On January 21, 21015, Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong took oath

Jason Damasco NCIP LDN-PO spoke in support to Datu Diamla

to the authorized administering officer through Lanao Del Norte Prosecutor II Rashid Macarimbang. On January 22, he filed a formal information to the Secretary of the Sanguniang Panglungsod that the IP Mandatory Representative is to assume his post as ex-officio member of the Sanguniang Panglungsod and in January 27, the Sanguniang Panglungsod debated for adoption which finally given back to the Committee on Indigenous People for determination of the authenticity of the documents being presented. On Wednesday, the Committee on Indigenous People found out the genuine and authenticity of the documents being presented by the Higaonon IP Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod and accepted him and will enact ordinance for appropriations.

The Committee on Indigenous People of the Sanguniang Panglungsod this city composed of Hon. Manuel "Manny" Salibay, chair; Hon. Marlene Young, Vice-Chair; Hon. Ariel Anghay, Hon. Michelle Echaves Sweet and Hon. Samuel "Tatay" Huertas members.