Mayor warns against reverse discrimination of IPs
BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan warned the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to address the various issues surrounding the selection of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) to the local legislative body to prevent alleged reverse discrimination.
The local chief executive said the NCIP and DILG must immediately clarify the issues raised on the selection and appointment of IPMR in localities that are dominated by IPs with the others serving as the minorities in the said places.
He claimed there will come a time that the minorities in the areas dominated by IPs will claim that they are now the ones who are experiencing reverse discrimination if the concerned local governments will continue to allow the IPMR to occupy a seat in their local legislative body where there are more IP legislators.
"We have to make sure on the availability and clarity of the rules governing the selection and appointment of IPMR in localities that are dominated by IPs to avoid suspicion from the minorities that there is reverse discrimination. We do not object to the appointment of the IPMR but it must pass through the appropriate process which is transparent and clear among those involved," Domogan stressed.
He pointed out the rules should have been properly laid down and that there should have been the necessary request to the local government to allocate the funds for the salaries and benefits of the IPMR and her or his staff as well as the identification of the office and the funding for the operation of the said office that will be established.
According to him, the NCIP and the DILG should first address the issues raised by the various representatives of IP organizations who were deprived of representations during the selection and appointment of the IPMR of the city before issuing the duly selected IPMR the certificate of affirmation and other pertinent documents for her or him to assume office.
Copies of the protest letter of representatives from the Ivadoys, Kalanguyas and Kankanaeys have been furnished the offices of Mayor Domogan, Vice Mayor Edison Bilog, the NCIP and the DILG for their appropriate action on their concerns related to the controversial selection and appointment of the city's IPMR.
An ordinance providing for the rules and regulations for the selection and appointment of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) is still pending approval by the local legislative body when the selection and appointment of the IPMR done be a lone tribe was undertaken last November 4, 2016.
Domogan suggested it is still best for the concerned government agencies to resolve the rift created by the sudden selection and appointment of the city's IPMR before allowing whoever is selected to sit as the city's IPMR to the local legislative body representing the indigenous peoples in the city./By Dexter A. See