An Assessment of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Regard to the Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

This paper tried to assess the projects of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and to determine whether or not its projects helped promote the rights of the indigenous peoples as well as achieve several human development goals. The researcher utilized a series of key informant interviews from the NCIP and the non-governmental organization KAMP (Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas) as well as case studies from previous researches made by other NGOs. Based from the data gathered, it is obvious that there are conflicting opinions on the condition of the indigenous peoples between the agency and the NGOs. The NCIP interviewees shared their thoughts on their agency’s projects and from that information and the facts from the case studies, the researcher assessed if the NCIP’s projects were able to protect the IPs’ human rights, preserve their cultural heritage, achieve social justice and human development as well as alleviate poverty. The NCIP has many short comings and is still far from achieving these goals, but the conditions have already been placed, so it is only a matter of harnessing these capabilities in order to achieve the desired outcomes.