Republic of the Philippines

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

LAND MANAGEMENT BUREAU
New MGB Building, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

MEMORANDUM

FOR : The Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs

FROM : The Acting Director

SUBJECT : REQUEST FOR DENR CONCURRENCE ON THE RATIFICATION

OF THE ILO CONVENTION ON INDIGENOUS AND TRIBAL
PEOPLES OR ILO CONVENTION NO. 169

DATE :

This refers to your Memorandum dated 22 August 2018 requesting for comments and
recommendation on the request for ratification of ILO Convention No. 169.

After careful assessment, below are our comments/suggestions:

1. On Article 1, Section 2 – The only fundamental criterion in determining whether an

individual is indigenous or not is self-identification since anyone can claim in disguise to
be one. We suggest that there be a more detailed criteria that would determine the
authenticity of an individual who claims to be an IP.

2. On Article 3, Section 1 – We suggest that provisions of the Convention shall be applied

without discrimination to the members of “all gender”, not with male and female alone.

3. We seek for clarification on the transmittal of land rights outside their own community by
the people concerned as stated in this Convention.

Being the National Government Agency responsible for the administration and
management of lands of public domain, we are in concurrence with the implementation/ratification
of the Convention because it has a vision of promoting social justice and protection of indigenous
people’s rights.

For your appropriate action.

ATTY. EMELYNE V. TALABIS, CESE

mmpdc