First Aeta Sanggunian member sworn into office in Zambales

IBA, Zambales - The first Indigenous People (IP) mandatory representative to a provincial board in the whole of Luzon was sworn into office here on Wednesday  by Gov. Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr.

Chito Balintay, an Ayta tribal leader from Botolan town, became the first IP board member in Zambales and the whole of Luzon after local tribesmen, with the support of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the provincial government, asserted their right to be represented under the law.

Balintay is expected to join the rest of the provincial board members in the next regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales here.

Aside from Balintay, seven other Ayta leaders who were chosen by Zambales tribesmen as their representative to town councils and two representatives in the barangay level were sworn into office by the governor.

They are Igmedio Gonzales, IP representative to the Olongapo City council; Gina Sotto, representative for Subic; Gerry dela Cruz, San Marcelino; John Sabangan, San Narciso; Enrique de San Juan, San Felipe; Alberto Amado, Cabangan; Franklin Cariño, Botolan; and Rolly Romualdo, representative for Barangay New Cabalan, and Zenaida Liwanag, representative for Barangay Old Cabalan, both in Olongapo City.

Ebdane said the IP representatives will become the voice of the Ayta people in Zambales, who have  been previously marginalized in both political and economic opportunities.

“Now that you have your own representative, you can better voice your concerns, and the government in turn can better respond with caring and support,” Ebdane told some 1,500 Ayta tribesmen who attended the oath-taking ceremony at the Capitol.

“Through your duly-elected representatives, let us then work together for a better Zambales,” Ebdane added.

Darios Sao-An, NCIP provincial director for Zambales, said Balintay’s ascension to the provincial board is covered by Republic Act 8371, which provides that “Indigenous Cultural Communities and IPs shall be given mandatory representation in policy-making bodies and other local legislative councils.”

Presently, the IP population in Zambales is about 43,000. These include members of the indigenous cultural communities in Olongapo City, who have their own ancestral domain and, thus, qualify under the guidelines.