RDC committee aims for a heightened IP advocacy

INNOVATION in culture and arts and autonomy is being pushed by the Regional Development Council ( RDC) Committee on Indigenous Peoples’ Concerns.

During a recent meeting presided by National Commission on Indigenous People’s – Cordillera Administrative Region (NCIP – CAR) acting regional director and lawyer Marlon Bosantog, the webinar series on IP Rights, innovation in culture and arts and autonomy which tackled relevant issues confronting the IP sector such as cultural misrepresentation and appropriation, cultural innovation and preservation, and the role of policies and agencies in the development of culture was highlighted.

The committee highlighted the heightened awareness and improved quality of discussions on IP issues with the insights of resource persons who are experts, practitioners and advocates coming from a multidisciplinary fields with practical experience.

Likewise, it improved the range of stakeholders which engaged more than 9,000 participants and viewers not just in the Cordillera but in the country and the world with the use of virtual platforms that would not be possible in a prepandemic conditions.

The committee aims to continuously explore a more focused and deeper issues affecting IP rights in the region with an increased participation from all sectors at all levels especially from the grassroots through the replication of the webinar series in 2021.

Further, the committee aims to further engage in facilitating problems arising from projects affecting indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) which is similar to its involvement in addressing the Chico Pump Irrigation Project that affected the ICCs of Kalinga in 2019.

The Committee also backs he initiative of

Bosantog to coordinate with DPWH in addressing the proposed demolition of the memorial of Macli-ing Dulag constructed along the national road in Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga.

Bosantog was joined by Private Sector Representative for IP Ryan Mangusan as co-chair.