Tribal rep in Agusan Sur town takes oath
AGUSAN DEL SUR -- Hawudon Solibao Romeo P. Pugahan recently took his oath of office for his first term as the Municipal Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, before Mayor Pauline Marie R. Masendo at the Municipal Mayor’s Office.
Hawudon Solibao, also a Manobo, now serves as a Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member and representative of the Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) in the Local Legislative Council.
The event was witnessed by Municipal Tribal Council of Talacogon, led by Hawudon Maangay-angayon II Marlon B. Plaza, the municipal tribal chieftain, Lilibeth D. De Venancio (representative of the San Luis Community Service Center), and other local officials.
Section 16 of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act on Right to Participate in Decision-Making provides: “Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) have the right to participate fully, if they so choose, at all levels of decision-making in matters which may affect their rights, lives and destinies through procedures determined by them as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous political structures.
Consequently, the State shall ensure that the ICCs/IPs shall be given mandatory representation in policy-making bodies and other local legislative councils. (LGU-Talacogon/ PIA Agusan del Sur)
