NCIP Office on Policy, Planning and Research

In light with the upcoming 2023 IP Month and 26th Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) Commemoration with the theme, “Pagpapayaman ng Pamanang Kultural at Katutubong Yaman Tungo sa mas Maliwanag na Kinabukasan para sa Bagong Pilipinas”, The NCIP enjoins the public to be guided on the use of Cultural Materials and Expressions of Indigenous Peoples.

01 June 2023 | NCIP participates in the Workshop on Indigenous Peoples Constitutions Assessment Tool

The National Commission on Indigenous (NCIP) took part in the Workshop on Indigenous Peoples Constitutions Assessment Tool (IPCAT) for the Institutional Champions spearheaded by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) from May 31 to June 4, 2023, at the SEDA Residences, Makati City.

The workshop aims to train and equip institutional champions to facilitate meaningful participation of IP champions and fulfill their specific roles and mandate to work collaboratively with indigenous peoples to respond to rights violations and promote better protection of indigenous rights.

NCIP Chairperson as an IP Rights Advocate, shared the State of Indigenous Rights in the Philippines under 1987 Constitution and how it applies to the Philippine Context. He presented the agency's mandate, programs and future plans, specifically on the importance of establishing the 11 Building Blocks of Resilient, Responsive, and Relevant Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) in their Ancestral Domains (AD). He also shared current issues and concerns of ICCs/IPs in their respective ADs.
“The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) concludes into the 11 Building Blocks that will be operationalized based on the Indigenous Peoples customary laws and practices,” the Chairperson remarked.

Representatives from various agencies participated in the workshop, including International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Delegation of European Union to the Philippines, Department of Agriculture, Commission on Higher Education, Legal Rights Center, Commission in Human Rights, UP Law Center of Institute of Human Rights, Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local Government, and National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines.
The IAG is an independent policy center devoted to research, training and technical assistance to evolve genuine autonomy and good governance, and support peace and development in the southern Philippines. IAG sees the promotion of autonomy as strategic providing platforms for the country’s minority – Muslims and indigenous peoples in the Bangsamoro and Cordillera regions to create self-governance structures for meaningful self-determination, sustainable growth and lasting peace.
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September 13, 2022: Day 2 - Healing, Reconciliation, and Operationalizing the 11 Building Blocks in the Ancestral Domain in Support to the Whole of the Government/Whole of the Nation Approach by empowering the FRs, IP Youth/IP-Ers, and IP Leaders at Brgy. Malabugas Gymnasium, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.

Day 2 started with a prayer. Groupings for the workshop followed. Emilou Gonzaga, CDO III of Bohol Community Service Center provided the recapitulation of Day 1 thereafter.

As of this time a total of 265 are joining physically in the venue while 23 participants are with us through Zoom. Be with us and witness this activity through FB Live.




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𝗧𝘇𝘂 𝗖𝗵𝗶 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗠𝗢𝗔 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀

In a ceremony held at the Sta. Mesa campus in Manila on September 9th, the Tzu Chi Foundation and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for partnership and cooperation. While Tzu Chi has already been helping the indigenous population by providing educational assistance, housing, livelihood, medical, and disaster relief, this new partnership is meant to strengthen and extend a variety of social welfare services for indigenous peoples.

In this regard, Dharma Master Cheng Yen always had an affinity with indigenous peoples, and understands very well how much they suffered. “If we are given this opportunity to reach out and help the indigenous community, I think it is Master’s utmost wish,” said Sis. Woon Ng, Tzu Chi’s Deputy CEO. Because of their great need, most of the indigenous population are unable to come to seek help and it is, therefore, Tzu Chi’s duty to provide the help needed, and it is through this new alliance that Tzu Chi can hope to expand their support.

OIC-Executive Director, Atty. Caesar M. Ortega noted that “with our partnership with Tzu Chi, we are now capable of doing together what we, as NCIP, could never do alone with our limited resources. In fact, with Tzu Chi’s help, we could double or even triple our accomplishments.” This would greatly help the distribution of assistance and services to a peoples who are, unfortunately, among the poorest and most disadvantaged groups in the country.

Within this framework, the NCIP has committed to provide “socio-economic services and other projects to benefit the indigenous community, which would help boost the economic development and social progress in the lives of our “Kapatid na Katutubo at Katutubong Pamayanan,” according to NCIP Chairperson, Allen A. Capuyan. “In fact,” expressed the Chairperson, “the advocacy of Tzu Chi Foundation and the mandate of NCIP, actually come together to help provide better services and assistance to indigenous peoples.”

Apart from being able to reach more people in the indigenous community, some of the other agreed upon initiatives include an expanded, and more efficient identification of potential beneficiaries, cooperation and full support at all levels, and sharing of pertinent data and information on ancestral domains, as well as culture sensitivity training for employees and volunteers, in both partner organizations.

Following the signing of the MOA, the delegates were given a full tour of the Sta. Mesa facility, to better familiarize NCIP members with Tzu Chi’s culture and history. One of the stops was Tzu Chi’s new state-of-the-art 3D printing facility, opened earlier this year in partnership with the Rotary Club of the Philippines.

It struck a chord with Atty. Ortega, who was especially impressed with this facility, and noted it is one aspect that is not being addressed with indigenous people, especially when it comes to children and physical disabilities. “I am a Shriner, and we help children with disabilities, and what struck me the most about your campus is how you are 3D printing prosthetics. I think this would be a huge advantage to the indigenous community, and something they desperately need.”

Honorable Commissioner Gaspar Cayat, was likewise impressed with Tzu Chi’s mission and vision, and expressed his most heartfelt sentiments regarding Dharma Master Cheng Yen. “Your founder [Master Cheng Yen] has the genuine intention to uplift the lives of those who have less in life, and that’s the real meaning of service,” he noted, “we learn that we should not only be interested in material things, but in the totality of the human being to enjoy life to its fullest.” In this regard, the partnership between the NCIP and Tzu Chi Philippines hopes to build a stronger alliance to provide much-needed socio-economic services to the Filipino indigenous peoples.

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Regional Director Atty. Harriet N. Abyadang, TMSD Chief Jane T. Lando, Provincial Officer Atty. Jesus Agbayani, and Provincial Legal Officer IV Atty. Jifford D. Rosqueta from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples paid a courtesy call to Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and had an opportunity to talk about possible plans and programs for the IPs in the province. [A]



Post from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte

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