House approves Kalanguya Center Bill

THE HOUSE of Representatives committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples recently approved House Bill 6577 establishing Kalanguya Center in the different parts of the country.

Identified cites for the center include the provinces of Ifugao, Benguet, and Nueva Vizcaya, 6th District of Pangasinan and 1st District of Nueva Ecija.

The bill seeks to protect and preserve the distinctive culture and traditions of the Kalanguya tribe and to provide the Kalanguya Indigenous Communities easy access to the services of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

Committee on ICC and IPs chair Representative Nancy Catamco and committee on appropriations chair Representative Karlo Nograles informed the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Benguet prior to its addressed last March through a resolution expressing strong support of the House Bill stating the need of the establishment of the center for the Kalanguya IPs.

“The Sanggunian affirms the necessity of establishing the Kalanguya Center which will be under the NCIP to ensure an easy access of the Kalanguya Indigenous Peoples to its services and where they can ventilate matters and issues for their general welfare.”

The bill was introduced by representatives Ronald Cosalan, Nancy Catamco, Karlo Alexei Nograles, Jose Panganiban Jr., Emmilene de Jesus, Wilter Wee Palma II, France Castro, Arlene Arcillas, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Sitti Djalia TurabinHataman, Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Maximo Dalog (+), Arnolofo Teves, and Maximo Rodriguez Jr.

Upon the approval of the bill, a Kalanguya Centers will be maintained in Tinoc, Ifugao, Buguias, Benguet Sta. Fe and Ambaguio in Nueva Vizcaya, San Nicolas in Pangasinan and such other areas as may be determined by the NCIP executive director.

Under the bill, the head of the center should be duly qualified member of the Kalanguya tribe and must report directly to the NCIP director.

Moreover, the chairperson of the NCIP directed to include the commission’s program the implementation of the act and its funding included in the annual general appropriations act.

In the Cordillera region, various groups rooted genealogy includes the province of Benguet for the Kalanguya, Ibaloi, Kankana-ey, Carao and Iowak.