The government has started crafting a national plan that aims to protect indigenous peoples (IPs) and their ancestral lands from harmful business practices.
The plan, called the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR), is part of the Philippine Human Rights Plan 2024–2028. It is meant to guide how businesses operate in ways that respect the rights of IP communities, especially as development expands in their areas.
The Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat (PHRCS) led the first workshop on July 15 in Makati City, joined by over 50 officials from 25 national agencies.
These included offices working on indigenous rights, environmental protection, and business regulation. The event was held with the support of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), civil society groups, and the European Union Delegation to the Philippines through the Land Justice Initiative.
The goal is to build national policies based on justice, unity, and respect for IPs, according to Undersecretary Severo Catura, executive director of PHRCS.
Retired Judge Jesus Torres, a former official of the Commission on Human Rights, said the country’s policies should align with global standards like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
He said these principles lay down the state’s duty to protect, the responsibility of businesses to respect, and the right of individuals to access remedies,.
Atty. Reina Bermudez, a legal and policy expert, said that the government needs to strengthen its policies on human rights in business, especially in areas where commercial activities overlap with Indigenous territories.
The next step will be a second workshop that includes direct input from Indigenous communities, civil society groups, and the private sector. A technical working group led by NCIP will then draft a proposed version of the action plan for further consultation.
