Birth certificates and ID with tribal affiliation, indigenous peoples' holidays lobbied in Senate hearing

The birth certificates and identification papers in the Philippines should indicate tribal affiliations of individuals, if applicable, an indigenous peoples' advocate said during a Senate hearing on anti-discrimination bills Wednesday.

"[In] birth certificates [from] Statistics office and other forms of identification, indigenous affiliation should be included to identify them of IP origin, not always the religion but also their IP religious faith or tribal faith, or indigenous affiliation of the individual," Tuklas Katutubo national president Datu Panguliman Jason Sibug said in an inquiry led by the Committee on Cultural Communities.

He also pushed for the inclusion and recognition of indigenous people's holidays in the official calendar of the country.

"Also knowing that our Christian and Muslim brothers are regarded of their special non-working holidays in the calendar, the IP should also be given the opportunity to be granted a non-working holiday so that they can practice their traditions and culture," Sibug said.

The advocate said these steps would reinforce the importance being given to the sector.

Further, he urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to strengthen its learning program for indigenous peoples to ensure that lessons are well-delivered while they stay in their ancestral lands.

In response, Education Assistant Secretary G.H. Ambat said that under the DepEd's IP education program, lessons are being contextualized for the consumption of learners in indigenous communities.

"It is being implemented now in 16 regions with our 109 divisions ensuring that our IP learners are given contextualized IP education," she said.

"DepEd has established mechanisms for engagement and partnership with 170 indigenous cultural communities in 290 communities nationwide with contextualization of the curriculum and development of learning materials," she added.

The hearing centered on various issues that could be covered by the proposed Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act.—AOL, GMA News