Quezon City, Philippines - More than 70 people representing organizations with a stake in how the government is addressing the “rice crisis” gathered here to discuss policy issues and alternatives.
Dubbed the “3rd National Conference on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Security,” the gathering brought together indigenous peoples’ organizations, civil society groups, academicians and policymakers advocating for indigenous peoples’ rights to food, ancestral land, and self determination.
The EED Philippine Partners Task Force for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (EEDTFIP), a network of civil society organizations advancing indigenous peoples’ rights with support from Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst e.V. (Church Development Service) of Germany, organized the conference held at the Bantayog Memorial Center from March 29 to 30.
A fair trade and an exhibit hosted by Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya (SIBAT) also ran during the conference. It showcased organic food products, indigenous crafts, and advocacy materials of the EEDTFIP network that promote food security and indigenous knowledge and practices.
Harvest in Peril
In a joint press conference with the Resistance and Solidarity Against Agro-chemical Transnational Corporations (RESIST) Network, EEDTFIP convenor Jill Carino noted that “various indigenous communities in the Philippines have been suffering from hunger and food insecurity even prior to the rice shortage hype.”
“The state of indigenous peoples’ food security worsened since the incursions of hybrid and genetically modified crops, pesticides, large-scale mining, dams, and militarization into our ancestral domains,” said Carino
A study conducted by the EEDTFIP shows that indigenous peoples are experiencing chronic food shortages. Much of the findings are attributed to agricultural liberalization and modernization, development aggression, and militarization and human rights violations.
“The government boasts of a healthy economy but for indigenous peoples, it is almost a ‘foodless’ one. Our seeds are eroded, their growth is stunted, hence, our harvest is imperiled,” declared Carino, an Ibaloi from Cordillera.
Sui Generis Approaches
According to Carino, “the 2008 Conference sought to shift EEDTFIP’s policy advocacy into high gear towards developing alternative policies that promote indigenous peoples’ rights and food security, ” adding that it built on previous conferences.
The 2004 National Conference paved the way for the publication of Our Harvest in Peril, a resource book that identified policy issues on indigenous peoples’ food security. The 2005 National Consultation came up with the Comprehensive Agenda Of Indigenous People’ Food Security.
Meanwhile, the policy papers and workshops of the 2008 Conference generated policy recommendations around three policy issues: agricultural liberalization and modernization, development aggression, and militarization and human rights violations.
One of the key recommended actions was to conduct a comprehensive impact assessment and review of current policies and programs on hybridization and genetic engineering in agriculture, with the view of scrapping them.
The development of holistic sui generis approaches and policies to protect ancestral lands, biological resources, indigenous knowledge, customary laws and traditional values was also emphasized as a precondition for attaining food security.
Calls for the cessation of militarization in indigenous peoples’ communities, restitution to indigenous victims of human rights violations, and the observance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples also passed as policy proposals.
Beyond the Traditional Cycle
In a panel discussion, policymakers took turns in responding to the conference recommendations, committing to provide venues for the articulation, consideration, and promotion of the proposals.
The panel included Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, House Deputy Minority Leader; Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan, House Committee on National Cultural Minorities member; Rafael Mariano, Anakpawis Partylist President and Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Chairperson.
Directors Masli Quilaman and Ana Elzy Ofreneo of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and Commission on Human Rights, respectively, also gave remarks.
Earlier in the conference, Rev Rex. Reyes, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and Dr. Raymundo Rovillos, Dean of the College of Social Sciences of the University of the Philippines Baguio delivered the keynote address and the remarks on the conference framework, respectively.
Rovillos challenged the conference participants to “pursue an evidence-based policy advocacy that goes beyond the traditional cycle,” stressing that more people must be involved in reviewing or critiquing policies and in finding solutions.
Meanwhile, Reyes described the state of indigenous peoples’ rights and food security amid the current “social upheaval,” adding that the conference must be “a conversation with the future.”
