Diane Hora | iMINDSPH
Cotabato City — Under the leadership of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebbrahim, the government of the day formally put forward BTA Bill No. 273, or the Bangsamoro Indigenous People's Development Act of 2024.
The bill is one of the remaining priority codes of the interim government.
The Bangsamoro Organic Law outlined the extensive rights of indigenous peoples, including native titles or "Fusaka Inged," indigenous customs and traditions, justice systems, indigenous political structures, equitable share of revenues from ancestral lands, political participation, essential services, and the freedom of choice regarding identity.
The proposed law covers all native IPs in the region, such as the Teduray, Lambangian, Dulangan Manobo, Erumanun Ne Menuvu, Higaonon, B'laan, Sama Dilaut, Sama Jama Mapun, Sama Bangingi, Sama Pangutaran, as well as other marginalized minority ICCs recognized by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MIPA).
The 19-chapter code includes titles and declaration of policy, ancestral domain, ancestral lands, Fusaka Inged, self-governance, indigenous political structure, mandatory representation of indigenous peoples in local legislative councils, policy-making bodies, tribal justice system, equitable share of natural resources, and priority rights of ICCs and IPs.
The proposed measure also advocates for the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples' Council that will serve as an advisory body to assist MIPA in implementing programs and services for ICCs and IPs.
Also stated in the proposed code is the allocation of 200 million pesos budget to ensure an effective implementation of the initiative.
The Indigenous Peoples and Revenue Codes are among the pending measures awaiting enactment.
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