A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AND ENDORSING THE CREATION OF THE NATIONAL

COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (NCIP)-SORSOGON PROVINCIAL OFFICE TO THE

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF BICOL

WHEREAS, Section 22, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that: “The State
recognizes and promotes the rights of the indigenous cultural communities within the framework of
national unity and development” Moreover, Section 2 (f) of Republic Act No. 8371 otherwise known as
“The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997” (IPRA) declared the following state policies, among
others, for Indigenous Peoples, to wit: “f ) The State recognizes its obligations to respond to the strong
expression of the ICCs/IPs for cultural integrity by assuring maximum ICC/IP participation in the
direction of education, health, as well as other services of ICCs/IPs, in order to render such services
more responsive to the needs and desires of these communities. Towards these ends, the State shall
institute and establish the necessary mechanisms to enforce and guarantee the realization of these
rights, taking into consideration their customs, traditions, values, beliefs, interests and institutions, and
to adopt and implement measures to protect their rights to their ancestral domains .”

WHEREAS, the Provincial Government of Sorsogon recognizes that under Section 38 of the
IPRA, the NCIP shall be the primary government agency responsible for the formulation and
implementation of policies, plans, and programs to promote and protect the rights and well-beings of
the ICCs/IPs and the recognition of their ancestral domains as well as their rights thereto. Moreover,
the NCIP is tasked to protect and promote the interest and well-being of the ICCs/IPs with due regard to
their beliefs, customs, traditions and institutions.

WHEREAS, the NCIP Regional Office 5 operates as the regional office in the Bicol Region. It
has two (2) provincial offices (Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte Provincial Offices) and four (4)
Community Service Centers (CSCs) in the following areas, to wit: Buhi-Camarines Sur, Labo-
Camarines Norte, Polangui-Albay and Sorsogon. These Provincial Offices and CSCs provide the
necessary basic services for almost 100,000 Agta/Agta-Tabangnon/Cimaron and Kabihug/Manide
Indigenous Peoples in the Bicol Region.

WHEREAS, the Sorsogon Service Center (SSC), with only seven (7) personnel, caters to 48 IP
communities which has a growing population of 23,570 with an IP and Personnel ratio of 3,367:1. The
existing SSC primarily attends to the IP communities in Donsol and Pilar, Sorsogon.

WHEREAS, the Provincial Government of Sorsogon, with due consideration to the aforestated
matters, recognizes that to be more efficient and effective in the performance of the NCIP’s functions in
giving more assistance to the welfare of the IP communities in the Province of Sorsogon, there is an
URGENT need to create the NCIP-SORSOGON PROVINCIAL OFFICE.

WHEREAS, the creation of said Provincial Office and the retention of the SSC will certainly
provide easy access for the availment of basic services for the IPs. Moreover, it will provide for
additional support and assistance for the welfare of the IPs in terms of additional projects, programs
and activities.

WHEREAS BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,in

session duly assembled to:
SUPPORT AND ENDORSE THE CREATION OF THE NCIP-SORSOGON PROVINCIAL OFFICE
BEFORE THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF
BICOL.

RESOLVED FURTHER, to send copies to_______________________________.for their information,

guidance and appropriate action.