The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) is urging five municipalities in Palawan that still lack indigenous peoples’ mandatory representatives (IPMRs) to assist in the selection process and in seeking funding to establish their offices.
NCIP Palawan officer-in-charge Mary Ann Delos Santos said during the regular program UP UP Palawan of the Tactical Operations Wing West (TOW West) that there are no IP representatives yet in the municipal councils of Cagayancillo, Magsaysay, Cuyo, Agutaya, and Culion as of now due to a shortage of finances.
She said that out of 23 municipalities IPMR positions in these five towns remain vacant.
“Wala pa tayong napapaupo d’yan dahil mahirap talaga kumuha ng pondo. Kaya ang ginagawa namin kung mayroon pong local chief executive na mababa ang puso ay nagpopondo sila,” Delos Santos said.
“Magkakaroon po sana ng selection process sa mga barangay hanggang sa municipyo pero sa lima na ito ngayon ay ‘yon pa ang ating kino-coordinate na kung maaari ay mabigyan ng pondo,” she added.
