Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION

9th National Youth Parliament

RESOLUTION NO. NYP-09-12-17
Series 2012

A RESOLUTION URGING THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TO CONDUCT A LEGISLATIVE INQUIRY INTO BUSINESSES THAT WILL CATER OR HIRE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THEIR WORKFORCE
Introduced by: Committee on Employment and Entrepreneurship WHEREAS, the State affirms labor as a primary social economic force and is mandated to protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare as enshrined in Article II, Section 18 of the Philippine Constitution; WHEREAS, Article XIII, Section 3 of the Philippine Constitution prescribes that the State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. Confirmed further by Article II, Section 22 that the State recognizes and promote the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development; WHEREAS, Section 23 of Republic Act no. 8371 otherwise known as the Indigenous People Rights Act of 1997, stipulates that it shall be the right of the indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples to be free from any form of discrimination, with respect to recruitment and conditions of employment, such that they may enjoy equal opportunities as other occupationally-related benefits; WHEREAS, considering the preceding section, the State shall within the framework of national laws and regulations, and in cooperation with the indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples concerned, adopt special measures to ensure the effective protection with regard to the recruitment and conditions of employment of persons belonging to these communities, to the extent that they are not effectively protected by the laws applicable to workers in general; WHEREAS, according to National Commission on Indigenous Peoples the Philippines being a culturally diverse country has an estimated 14-17 million Indigenous People belonging to 110 ethnolinguistic groups. They are mainly concentrated in Northern Luzon (33%) and Mindanao (61%) with some groups in the Visayas area; WHEREAS, United Nations Forum on Indigenous Issues in January 2010, revealed that Indigenous peoples make up fully one-third of worlds poorest peoples, suffer disproportionately in areas like health, education, human rights, and regularly face systematic discrimination and exclusion; WHEREAS, a legislative inquiry provides an avenue to assess the general situation of indigenous people and may serve as a basis for granting tax incentives to business enterprises hiring them; WHEREAS, there is no existing data regarding employment discrimination and it causes alarm, thus further studies are needed; WHEREAS, this initiative will call on the lawmaking body to give more attention to employment concerns and needs of the indigenous people which are oftentimes overlooked or neglected; WHEREAS, the output of this initiative will serve as a voice of emancipation to the indigenous people against prejudices that undermine their right for equal employment opportunities and indirectly bar them from showing their full potentials, talents, skills and competencies which are primary consideration of employers prior to hiring; RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to urge the Congress of the Philippines to conduct a legislative inquiry into businesses that will cater or hire capable indigenous people in their workforce;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that it will be a major consideration in the passage of Senate bill 1372, an act to ensure equal employment opportunities to members of indigenous cultural communities and preference in certain cases and for other purposes that is now in the first reading of the senate. ADOPTED this 5th day of May 2012 at Naga City, Philippines.

Certified by:

STEPHEN BRYAN Y. BONGCARAS

Secretary General

Approved by:

PATRIXIA SHERLY D. SANTOS

President

REVOLUTIONIZING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTIONIZING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTIONIZING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTIONIZING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTIONIZING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTIONIZING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTIONIZING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REVOLUT IONIZING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTIONIZING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Committee Members: Kent Marjun B. Primor (Committee Chairperson), June Vincent Manuel S. Gaudan (Vice Chairperson),Ronald B. Padojinog (Committee Secretary), Genesis B. Galap (Deputy Committee Secretary), Erickson T. Mallari, Juan Paulo O. Rodriguez, Paul Francis N. Lagarde, Ludel Maiello F. Mier, Nova Jane P. Lacbao, Kent Marpin B. Primor, Datumanong T. Ebil, Allen Renaldo O. Cruz, Joseph Ian B. Sabado, Erosbon L. Sabedo, Joanna Bernice S. Coronacion, Jon Leila Maxinn V. Balibado.