Oro dads create seat for indigenous people's representative

THE 20th City Council, presided over by Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez in its regular session, enacted an ordinance creating the position for Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) who will sit as ex-officio member or sectoral representative of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cagayan de Oro.

The move follows the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2010-119, which directs all local chief executives to uphold Republic Act 8371, otherwise known as Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, which ensures ICC/IP representation in local sanggunians.

As an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the IPMR shall automatically chair the City Council Committee on Cultural Communities or its equivalent and be eligible for election as vice chair or member of other standing committees.

The IPMR shall also exercise such powers, duties, privileges, and responsibilities as by the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160), and all other relevant laws, to Sangguniang Panlungsod members.

The legislation was sponsored by the City Council Committee on Laws and Rules chaired by Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas.