DAVAO CITY – A party-list group representing the indigenous peoples (IP) of the country was formally launched at the Davao Convention Center here last Tuesday in what could be the first in Philippine politics, an official said.

Dubbed Abante Tribung Makabansa (ATM), the party list aims to develop and institutionalize systems and mechanisms by way of legislation to let the executive branch of government effectively and efficiently translate and transform policies into concrete actions that ensure widest participation of tribal assemblies and consultative bodies.

Eugenio Insigne, chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), said the ATM could be the first party list to focus and recognize the rights and well-being of the IPs. “Through ATM, the lumads will have a voice on formation of policy  legislations once it gets seats in Congress,” he said, adding that the party list aims to get three seats in Congress.

Insigne said occupying a seat in Congress is significant in pushing for an addition in the budget for the development of the IP sector.

“We admit that the commission lacks fund to support the IPs. But if we make it in Congress, we can work to establish the fund to jumpstart projects for our IPs,” he said, adding that the current budget for the IP sector is P600 million while the commission aims P1.2 billion for next year.

Led by the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD), the launching of the party list in Mindanao gathered more than 500 representatives from 18 tribes in the six regions in Mindanao.

Datu Ramon Bayaan, vice president for external affairs of the MIPCPD, expressed confidence that the ATM could help in pushing for the plight of the lumads.

“If the party list wins, it will help in the projects of the lumads for the environment. This will enable the government to understand the culture of the lumads and to be able to share our culture on how to preserve and protect our ancestral domains,” he said in the vernacular.

As guest speaker in the launching, former Public Works and Highways Secretary and now presidential aspirant Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. vowed to support the party.

“I am supporting this electoral party of the IPs because we need to hear their voice, what the government can help and how they can help the government,” he said.

Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindanao Affairs, also committed support to the party.

“We welcome this unity of the lumads. IPs are important components of Mindanao. So, there is a need for a representation of the lumads in policy-making. We are glad that they now have a vehicle to voice out their advocacies and we hope that we will get support from the public,” he said.

Dureza added that the party will also be launched in Visayas and Luzon in the coming days.