FOR the longest time, the Dumagat-Remontado indigenous group has long been suffering from discrimination and lack of access to education. Without being able to read or write, many of the Dumagat-Remontados of Rizal province have fallen prey to con artists masquerading as philanthropists – or at times, playing the role of an environmentalist.
In the Upper Marikina River Protected Landscape (UMRPL) spanning the towns of Montalban, San Mateo, Antipolo, Baras and Tanay, Dumagat-Remontados are slowly being eased out from their ancestral domain by groups bragging on government connections, with spurious documents and in some instances, use of force by private armed groups.
But politicians at the helm of the government don't seem to realize that indigenous people are a force to reckon with. Take into consideration their population.
According to the United Nations Office for Project Services, the Philippines is home to over 17 million indigenous peoples, who make up 110 ethnolinguistic groups. Indigenous communities tend to live in geographically isolated areas, where they have retained much of their traditional culture and livelihood activities.
During the 2022 elections, 14 million indigenous people went out to vote, which means that their voting prowess can make or break a politician. With a population that big, it is not surprising that the rich, powerful and famous prefer a neo-colonial educational system that has been making it doubly hard for them to avail of their right to formal education.
While many IPs are inclined to believe that the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 is enough to guarantee them equal rights, a closer look at the law proves otherwise.
IPRA is more of a token measure. The truth for that matter is education remains beyond reach for the IPs because of poverty. For some of them who have tried attending school, every day is a struggle as they can hardly understand the widely used medium of instruction in most IP curricula.
Another thing, specific provisions of IPRA related to the access to education and culture are short of the policy ideals.
Perhaps it is high time to send an IP to Congress if only to guarantee they would get an equal treatment insofar as government attention is concerned. 14 million votes is more than enough votes to secure three partylist seats at the House of Representatives – or a voice at the Senate.
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