QUEZON CITY – At least 35 indigenous tribes in the Philippines are expected to participate in the State of the Indigenous Peoples Address and the National IP Women Gathering which began Friday in the University of the Philippines here.
Organizers in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner said at least 100 key leaders, representatives, and chieftains from tribal groups in Mindanao, the Visayas, and Palawan, including tribes in Luzon are invited in the 5-day gathering.
It said the gathering is attended by keys leaders, representatives, and chieftains from tribal groups in Mindanao – Manobo, Mamanwa, T’boli, B’laan, Subanen, Teduray, Higaonon, Talaandig, Mandaya in the provinces of Surigao, Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bukidnon, Davao; Agta, Bukidnon, and Atis of Negros provinces in the Visayas, and the Aeta, Palawan, Mangyan, Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, Igurot tribes of Luzon.
The National IP Women gathering comes after the annual SIPA. Most of the participants have attended at least one SIPA.
The outcome of the gathering will be used to formulate an IP Agenda, which will be given to relevant agencies both at the national and local level; and to other policymakers to help them craft or address important agenda concerning the indigenous tribes.
In the last three State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino, the government did not mention any agenda for the indigenous peoples.
SIPA is a national gathering of indigenous peoples to present to the Filipino people their true state and plight, their issues and concerns, their aspirations and their struggles to protect and promote their rights as communities and as peoples.
This is the 5th SIPA to be organized since 2008 as a parallel to the State of the Nation Address of the President.
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