Bontoc, Mountain Province – The Indigenous People Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) in this capital town are performing well.
This was reflected in the reports of Municipal IPMR Tomas F. Longatan together with the IPMRs of Alab Oriente, Alab Proper, Balili, Bontoc Ili, Caneo, Caluttit, Dalican, Guina-ang, Gonogon, Mainit, Maligcong, Poblacion and Tocucan when they reported their accomplishments during the 2nd Quarter Meeting of IPMRs on July 4, 2018. The IPMRs of Bayyo, Talubin and Samoki were not present due to equally important matters they had to attend to.
Among the highlighted accomplishments of the IPMRs are their involvement in resolving conflicts among community members or with those from other communities; practice of customary rituals in weddings, deaths, thanksgiving and others; attendance during barangay council meetings; and participation in community activities such as clean-up drives.
Spearheaded by the Bontoc municipal government through the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)- Provincial Office, the quarterly meeting of the IPMRs is an avenue for the latter to report their accomplishments, discuss IP issues and concerns and strengthen camaraderie among IPMRs in the locality.
It is also noteworthy that among the municipalities in Mountain Province, it is only Bontoc that conducts quarterly meetings of IPMRs.
Atty. Atanacio D. Addog, the Legal Officer of the NCIP- Provincial Office remarked that even if all the constituents in the province are IPs, the presence of IPMRs is a very good avenue to take stock of, and enforce, indigenous and customary laws and practices.
He also commended the IPMRs stating that their presence in the meeting is a manifestation of their commitment to their responsibilities in their respective communities. Likewise, Atty. Addog thanked the municipal government for appropriating funds for the conduct of the quarterly meetings of the IPMRs.
In his message, Bontoc Mayor Franklin C. Odsey acknowledged that there are problems, issues and conflicts in the community and the best solution is the practice of the customary laws or the intervention of the elders.
Relative to this, he suggested to the IPMRs to seek guidance from the elders in going back to the traditional practices especially in resolving problems or conflicts.
The mayor also assured the full support of the municipal government and the concerned national government agencies in their endeavors for the welfare of the IP communities.
“Let us be one. The municipal government and the NCIP are there side by side to help you work for the benefit of our Bontoc ay Kalalaychan,” Odsey assured.
In closing, Bontoc Vice Mayor Eusebio S. Kabluyen lauded the IPMRs on their accomplishments which is a manifestation of upholding what they had vowed to do when they were appointed to their positions.
He recounted that when he was young, he used to listen to how elders in the “ato” gave their advice to a man who was about to get married not to feed his family with stolen food or that was bought with stolen money. A family should be fed from one’s hard labor. Money from gambling activities is also bad, added Kabluyen.
With this, he solicited the help of IPMRs to be the voice in stopping illegal gambling activities in their respective communities emphasizing that gambling does not bring any blessing inside the home; rather it may cause conflict between husband and wife affecting not only their relationship but their children too.
Also present during the meeting are Sangguniang Bayan members Viola P. Okko, Esteban O. Nguddo, Julian F. Chumacog, Alexandre C. Claver, Robert B. Dacyon and Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) Jill F. Fa-ed.** Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc –LGU
