By: Minerva BC Newman
CENTRAL VISAYAS, June 2 (PIA) --- The Visayas region is home to an estimated population of nearly 9,000 Indigenous Peoples composed of nine (9) IP communities that include the Badjaos, Atis, Escaya, Karol-an, Magahat, Bukidnon, Mamanwa and Manobo tribes scattered and resettled in various provinces within regions 6, 7 and 8.
National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP-7) OIC-regional director, Hazel Torrefiel said right now, NCIP is documenting various indigenous knowledge, systems and practices of the IP communities in the country.
“This is to preserve and document the unique, traditional and truly indigenous practices of the IP tribes as part of the Filipino cultural heritage,” Torrefiel added.
Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities has sought the protection of the nation’s cultural heritage through the registration of ownership of various cultural properties of indigenous groups in the country.
As part of the advocacy to preserve and protect Philippine Heritage, Legarda filed Senate Bill 2831, The Traditional Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
The bill seeks to make an inventory of all cultural properties of the various indigenous communities in the country and mandates the payment of royalties for the use of these cultural properties.
The indigenous peoples have suffered historical injustices in the form of discrimination, deprivation of their ancestral domains and lands, among many other human rights violations, the Senator lamented.
Torrefiel on the other hand said, it is sad to note that these indigenous peoples do not own lands anymore. “We call them resettled IPs,” she said.
There are reported incidences that local and foreign entities stole some of these indigenous knowledge, dances and designs.
It further marginalized the indigenous communities depriving them of their cultural property, their identity which has been passed on from their ancestors.
Legarda, explained that the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (RA 8371) does not provide for specific provisions for the protection of their cultural properties.
Furthermore, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines does not have the legal mandate nor the expertise or capability to undertake such protection of our indigenous cultural treasures, the senator addec.
The passage of Legarda’s bill sought to fill in the void. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) shall lead the creation of a comprehensive cultural archive which shall organize and make an inventory of all cultural properties of the different ethno-linguistic groups of the Philippines .
The NCCA shall ensure the registration of ownership to the proper ethno-linguistic group for protection of their intellectual property.
“Through this measure we can strengthen the protection of the traditional cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines and support traditional artists and artisans in their contributions to their respective ethnic cultures and national heritage by ensuring that their rights are safeguarded,” Legarda concluded. (PIA-7 & Office of Senator Legarda)