The Philippines is an ethnolinguistically diverse country in which democratic governance requires not only equitable access to public services but also institutional mechanisms that ensure meaningful political participation and representation of historically marginalized groups. Despite statutory recognition under Republic Act No. 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) continue to experience systemic exclusion, manifested in persistent poverty, limited access to social services, and constrained influence over political decision-making. To address this gap, IPRA institutionalized the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), guaranteeing indigenous representation in local legislative councils through culturally grounded selection processes. This study analyzes the IPMR as a mechanism for Indigenous political empowerment, focusing on its achievements and persistent challenges. Using a qualitative research design grounded in Indigenous perspectives, the study was conducted in a Dumagat community in the Philippines. Findings show that the community recognizes the mandate of IPRA and values the IPMR’s formal role in articulating Indigenous interests within legislative bodies. The study also highlights the strong authority of community elders (gemut) over the selection and early removal of representatives, reflecting enduring Indigenous governance practices. The results also reveal the susceptibility of IPMRs to co-optation by local political actors through patronage-based arrangements, underscoring tensions between state-based democratic procedures and Indigenous consensus-driven governance systems. This underscores the need for reforms that move beyond symbolic inclusion. Strengthened Indigenous Peoples Education (IPED), structured capacity-building and legislative training for IP representatives, periodic performance monitoring by relevant agencies, and the consistent enforcement of laws are recommended.

Authors:
Abigeil Carlos, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Carlos is currently active in trifocal areas: teaching Philippine history, Political Science, Indigenous Peoples' Studies, Contemporary World and other Socia Science discipline; extension and researches focus on indigenous peoples and governance

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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