Prior to 1997, the Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines have already struggled for recognition and protection of their rights. It was on October 29, 1997 that the national government responded to their assertion by passing into law Republic Act 8371 otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples Right Act or IPRA.

Years after its passing, there were many obstacles to its implementation both legal and political. It was at this period between 2000 and 2002 where series of IP leaders’ meetings and regional consultations were held by the Mindanao Area Coordinating Center (MACC) mandated through the MOU between Office of the Presidential Adviser for Mindanao (OPAMin) and SouthCom, AFP.

On April 1-3, 2003, the very first Mindanao IP Convention was held at Linmarr Apartelle in Davao City, attended by more than 400 IP leaders from all regions in Mindanao with the theme “Bridging the Gap: a Celebration of Convergence of the Government and IP Sector”. The former Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) Hon. Angelo T. Reyes was one of those who supported this event.

On April 3, 2003, the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD) was formally created. Lipatuan Joel A. Unad, the chairman of the Panagtagbo Mindanao Sub-Regional Council of Davao City was elected the first chairman of the newly organized MIPCPD. One of the highlights and significant undertakings of this convention was the proposal to create an IP-desk in all the AFP units as contained in the MOU that was entered into by and between Lipatuan Joel A. Unad who represents the indigenous peoples of Mindanao and the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division Philippine Army, represented by its Commanding General MGen Cristolito P Balaoing, AFP. The ultimate goal of the said MOU was to promote peace, unity, security, and other development initiatives in the IP communities.

Between 2003 to 2007, the MIPCPD has continuously advocated to the different units of the AFP, Local Government Units (LGU) and Government Line Agencies (GLAs) on the IPRA law and the Five Pillars of IP Rights (Right to Ancestral Domain, Right to Traditional Political System, Right to Traditional Justice System, Right to Cultural Integrity and Right to Enter into Peace Pact and Agreements).

The highlight of the period came when the MIPCPD leadership met with the former AFP Chief of Staff Gen Hermogenes T. Esperon, last August 2007 resulting to two (2) weeks IP rights advocacy in Manila where core leaders of the MIPCPD was able to call on the NCIP Chairman, the CHR, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Secretary of DENR and the leadership of the AFP.

On November 27-29, 2007 the 2nd Mindanao IP Convention was held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City, attended by at least 500 IP leaders of the different IP communities in Mindanao with a theme “Building Partnership between Indigenous Peoples and Stakeholders in the Ancestral Domains for Peace and Development”.

One of the highlights of this activity was the Mutual Understandings signed between Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC), AFP and MIPCPD that resulted to the implementation of the 5% annual quota for enlistment of the IPs to the AFP, subject to AFP regulations, and ensuring a vibrant and dynamic symbiotic partnership between the DND/AFP and IP Tribal Council of Elders in the conduct of National Intelligence and Security Plan (NISP) in peace, unity, and development efforts. This understanding subsequently resulted to the creation of Task Force “Gantangan”.

The MIPCPD was formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 9, 2008 and was certified by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Region XI and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region XI, as partner IP Organization in unity, peace and development.

The Task Force “Gantangan” of Philippine Army, AFP was officially activated on February 1, 2008 as MIPCPD partner for peace, unity and security program. Symbolically, it means “delivery and/or observance of justice.” For the IPs, it connotes measurement of the violations of basic IP rights. The very name of the Task Force “Gantangan” suggests that the sector for which it was especially created has reached the end of its rope in taking all the exploitation, oppression, liquidations and all other violations against their rights that they have been putting up with for a very long time.

Task Force “Gantangan” was deactivated after one year from its creation and the Office of Indigenous Peoples Concern (OIPC) under the Eastern Mindanao Command, Davao City was created purposely to handle IP concerns in the AFP units.

Starting March 2008, a series of joint trainings were conducted by MIPCPD leaders/local representatives and TF “Gantangan” and local AFP units in preparation to the conduct of Indigenous Peoples Mobilization for Peace and Development Undertakings (IPMPDU).

There were 36 IPMPDU activities conducted all over Mindanao resulting to the establishment of 38 Local chapters of MIPCPD Tribal Assemblies, 16 Satellite Organizations, and 9 IPO-partners. MIPCPD was also able to forge partnership with major IP Organizations such as the TRICOM and PINILI in CARAGA Region, PAMAAS in Central Mindanao, and PANAGTAGBO Mindanao.

MIPCPD, in a historic event, was able to forge partnership for Peace Covenant with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) last June 12, 2008 represented by then Secretary Jesus G. Dureza at Rizal Park, Davao City. MIPCPD was also invited and became a member of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Region XI, Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), and the Regional Development Council (RDC) Region XI.

The MIPCPD membership is composed of the majority of the Provincial Consultative Body (PCB) chairpersons all over Mindanao together with the majority of the Municipal Tribal Council Chairmen, and to include the four (4) out of the (5) Local Legislative Mandatory IP representatives in Gingoog City, New Bataan, Nabunturan, Esperanza and other tribal leaders, IP individuals in Visayas and Luzon.

MIPCPD also collaborated with the A Barrionomics Community Development Corporation (ABCD), a consultancy firm for rural community development. ABCD Corporation conducted technology transfer and management training/seminars with different MIPCPD local chapters on castor beans, coffee, rubber & abaca production and trading.

On October 27-29, 2008 the 3rd Mindanao IP Convention was held attended by 487 IP participants from the 38 MIPCPD Local Tribal Assemblies, 16 Satellite Organizations and partner IP Organizations represented by the different Tribal Chairmen, Council of Elders, Bagani Heads, Development/Project officers, Youth and Women representatives with the theme “Weaving Unity Amidst Diversity; Strengthening IP communities through the Indigenous Peoples Right Act (RA 8371) as key to Sustainable Development and Stability”. This was highlighted with eight (8) MOU signing with partners in development and security.

It was at this 3rd Mindanao IP Convention that the IP leaders, members, and representatives, have unanimously decided to participate in the party-list system in the May 2010 national and local elections, penned in Resolution No. 29, Series 2008 which was passed and approved on October 29, 2008 at Felis Resort Complex, Matina Aplaya, Davao City.

On February 16-19, 2009 MIPCPD 2nd Mindanao Council of Elders Forum was held at Felis Resort Complex, Davao City with the theme “Recognition of the wisdom of the council of elders as key to the empowerment of IP communities for peace and development”. This activity was attended by more than 200 Council of Elders from different IP communities in Mindanao. Highlights of this activity was the selection of 10 Council of Elders formed as the Board of Elders (BOE) of MIPCPD. The role of this BOE is to provide guidance and counselling towards the empowerment of IPs for peace and development.

Last May 12-13, 2009 a Peace Dialogue and Consultation on Ancestral Domain MOA-AD sponsored by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) was held at Imperial Hotel, Davao City. OPAPP was represented by Dr. Ronald Adamat, IP Representative to the GRP-MILF Peace Panel. Tribal leaders, members, and representatives of different MIPCPD IPs/ICCs of Region XI have unanimously supported the exclusion of ancestral domains of the IPs from the MOA-AD being proposed by the MILF.

MIPCPD will continue with its mandate of empowering and uniting the Indigenous Peoples not only in Mindanao but as well as the entire IPs of the Philippine archipelago into one aspiration, one common goal and perspective, and be empowered towards sustainable peace and development.