MARCH 1, 2012 DATE

NR # 2695B
REF. NO.

House body to fast track the passage of the indigenous peoples bill
The House Committee on National Cultural Communities has fast tracked the passage of a bill protecting the rights of indigenous peoples (IP) in the country. The House body chaired by Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. (Lone District, Ifugao) has directed a technical working group (TWG) to craft the final version of HB 5479 authored by Rep. Nancy Catamco (2nd District, North Cotabato). Rep. Maximo Dalog (Lone District, Mt. Province), who presided during the recent public hearing, said the bill was designed to promote and protect the rights, including the grant of special privileges, of indigenous cultural communities. Catamco said the Constitution has very wisely given the highest priority to the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous cultural communities to ensure their economic, social, and cultural well-being. The intent of my proposal is to recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples to take their proper place in society and for government to give full support to the improvement of their well-being and their full participation in the community and to nation building considering that they are an integral and vital part of Philippine society, Catamco said. Under the bill, qualified indigenous person shall mean any person who is a bona fide member of the Indigenous Cultural Communities, who is at least 18 years old and has an income of not more than P600,000 per annum subject to review by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) every three years. IPs should be granted 20% discount and exemption from the value-added tax should cover purchase of medicines and other essential medical supplies; professional fees of attending physicians in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics and homecare services; medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees including medical supplies in all private hospitals. The 20 percent discount would cover the actual fare for land transportation travel in public utilities, light rail transit, air and sea vessels, hotels and similar lodging establishments, theaters and other places of cultural leisure and amusement, restaurants, and funeral and burial services. The bill also grants a minimum of 5% discount on, among other services, the utilization of water and electricity supplied by public utilities, provided that their monthly consumption does not exceed 100 KWH and the meters are in the name of the qualified IPs. (30) dpt