OURNEWSOCIALCONTRACT:
PanawaganparaLubusinangmgaNasimulangReporma
ThePhilippineeconomyisgrowingatapacethatisbeingenviedbyitsneighbors.Nottoolong
ago,itwasthe“sickmanofAsia”whostruggledwithstagnanteconomicgrowthandwas
perenniallytoppinginternationalmost-corruptgovernmentlists.Incontrast,todayitenjoysbeing
Asia’s“risingtiger”andisprojectedtocontinuebeneDittingfrombeinginademographic“sweet
spot.”Economicgrowthhasbeenabovesixpercentannuallysincethebeginningofthecurrent
administration,farbetterthanthecountryhaseverachievedsincethe1970s;thisGDPgrowth
rateiscurrentlysecondhighestinAsia.Goodgovernancemeasuressuchasincreasing
transparencyandaddressingcorruption—ashighlightedintheDaangMatuwidvisionof
PresidentAquino—haveresultedinhightaxcollectionyield,renewedinternationalinvestment
conDidenceleadingtobettersovereigncreditrating,highernetForeignDirectInvestmentinDlow,
andyearlymarkedimprovementsinglobalcorruptionsurveys.
However,theincreasingwealthofthenationishardlyfeltbytheaverageFilipino.Thoughthere
hasbeena2.8%declineinthepovertyincidencefrom2009to2014,povertyincidenceincreased
slightlyfrom2013to2014becauseoftyphoonYolandaandtheriseinpriceofrice.Thisonly
highlightstheneedtoenhancesocialprotectionmeasurestoaddressthevulnerabilityofthepoor
andnear-poor.Atpresent,oneoutoffourFilipinosremainspoor.
SeveralbasicindicatorsfromtherecentlyconcludedMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs)were
notmet.Maternalmortalityremainshighat221deathsper100,000comparedtothegoalof52.
Andalthoughtotalfertilityrateisdecreasing,thereisanobservedrisingtrendinteenage
pregnancyanddelivery.Suchdatahavebeenlargelyattributedtothestilllimitedaccessofwomen
toreproductivehealthcare.ThespreadofHIV/AIDSisnowherenearbeingreversedandisfact
increasingatanalarmingrateof21newcasesaday.Malnutritionisrampantwithunderweight
childrenunderDiveyearsoldat19.9percentin2013,whichisafarcryfromthe13.6target.While
thecountryachievedmodestgainsongenderequalityandeducationforall,thechallengeremains
hugeastheglobalcommunitycommitstoattainingthenewsetofSustainableDevelopmentGoals
by2030.
SpeciDicgapsintheAquinoadministration’sperformanceincludetheunsuccessfulpassageofvital
billssuchastheFreedomofInformation,Anti-PoliticalDynasty,andtheBangsamoroBasicLaw,as
wellasthefailuretoredistributethecocolevyfundforthewelfareofthepoorcoconutfarmers.
Moreover,itmustbeunderscoredthatdespitethegoodgovernancebattlecry,PresidentAquino
hasbeenaccusedofplayingfavorites:thoseclosesttohim—Gen.AlanPurisimabeingthefavorite
example—arestillabletoenjoyprotectionandthebeneDitsofselectivejustice.Tobefair,someof
thesehavebeenshortcomingsofthelegislativeandjudicialbranches.
Andtherehavebeengains.Anexampleistheexpansionoftheconditionalcashtransfer(CCT)
mechanismthroughthePantawidPamilyaPilipinoProgram(4Ps).Therehasalsobeenincreased
transparencyandaccountabilityingovernanceparticularlythroughtheBottom-upBudgeting
(BuB)mechanismandPriorityDevelopmentAllocationFund(PDAF)scamwhichimprisoned
severalpoliticalVIPsandachiefjustice.
Inaddition,PhilHealthcoveragehasbeenexpanded,includingthecoverageofpoorhouseholds
enlistedintheNationalHouseholdTargetingSystem(NHTS)throughRA10606.Theseinsurance
premiumsareDinancedusingthegainsfromthepassageoftheSinTaxlaw(RA10351).Another
progressivehealthcare-relatedlawthatAquinoheavilysupportedistheResponsibleParenthood
andReproductiveHealth(RA10354).
Moreover,thePeople’sSurvivalFund(PSF)(RA10174)waspassed,whichisanautomaticyearly
allocationofonebillionpesostofundclimatechangeadaptationanddisasterriskreduction
projectsoflocalgovernmentunits(LGU)andcommunityorganizations.Therecentlydeveloped
hazardmapsoftheDepartmentofScienceandTechnology(DOST)’sProjectNOAH(Nationwide
OperationalAssessmentofHazards)isabighelpinprovidingevidence-basedplanningonhow
thePSFwillbeutilizedanddistributed,aswellasaidinpre-,during,andpost-disasterresponse.
TheAquinoAdministration’sDightagainstcorruptionrestoredconDidencethatfuelledbothlocal
andforeigninvestmentsintotheeconomy.Thechallengenowistocontinuetheworkthathas
beenstartedinorderforthegainstobemoreinclusiveandtoprovideincreasedsocialprotection
forthevulnerable.
Withthe2016electionsapproachingattopspeed,thequestionathandishowthenext
administrationwillcarrythisthrough.
ActiveParticipationoftheBasicSectors
Economicgrowthshouldbeinclusive.Andatthesametime,governmentshouldprovide
mechanismsinordertoempowerthepoorsothatthepoorthemselveswillgetoutfromthe
povertytrap.Thismeansgoingbeyondemptypromisesforparticipation.TheNationalAntiPovertyCommission(NAPC)wascreatedsothatthebasicsectorscandirectlyengagethe
governmentthroughitsanti-povertyprograms.Thus,thereisaneedtosolidifythecommitment
ofthePresident,whohasbeendesignatedastheChairpersonoftheNAPCbyworkingcloselywith
theleadersandmembersofvariousbasicsectorgroups.
ThestructureofNAPC—particularlythe14BasicSectorCouncilsandtheirelectedvicechairperson—wasdesignedtoensureresponsive,inclusive,participatoryand,mostimportantly,
representativedecision-makingatalllevelsThus,theenbanciscrucial;thisiswherethe
representativesofthefourteencouncilsmeetwiththehighestexecutivetodiscusspolicies,
measuresandmechanismsthatwilladdresstheneedsofthepoorandmarginalized.
Unfortunately,withallthetalkoninclusivegrowth,itisdemoralizingthatPresidentAquinohas
failedtocallforanenbancmeetingwiththeNAPCandtheSectoralRepresentativesoftheBasic
SectorCouncils.Thechallenge,therefore,liesonthenextPresidenttoensurethatregularenbanc
meetingsareheld.
2016Elections
PresidentAquinoisalreadyfacinghislastfewmonthsingovernment.Membersofacademe,
media,non-governmentalorganizations,aswellasgovernmentagencieshaveassessedAquino’s
termusingthe“SocialContractwiththeFilipinoPeople;”apromisethatwasdeliveredduringhis
electoralcampaignandmadeintoanExecutiveOrderin2011.
Whiletheseassessmentsexist,onehasyettocomefromtheveryaudiencethattheSocialContract
seekstoaddress:thepoor.
OurNewSocialContract
OurNewSocialContractproposesspeciDicpolicyagendaawayfromrhetoricalaspirations.
SpeciDicityrequiresthatrights-baseddemandsaresolution-centricandaresubjectto
accountabilitiesfrombothparties.
TheprimaryobjectiveistoinDluencedecisionsandpoliciesinthenextadministrationinorderto
ensurethatthebeneDitsofgrowtharebothreadilyavailabletoandeasilyfeltbythepoor.
Sixthemesweredevelopedtoframethelonglistofconsolidatedpolicyrecommendationsfrom
theBasicSectorCouncils.SpeciDicpolicyrecommendationswerethenpickedoutinorderto
developatime-bound,achievable,andacceptablesocialcontractbetweenthebasicsectorsand
theincomingadministration.
Themajoragendapointsofthebasicsector’sNewSocialContractareasfollows:
1) Economicreformsandasoundindustrialpolicy
OneoftheAquinoadministration’sremarkableachievementsisanaverageeconomicgrowthrate
of6.3percentinthelastDiveyears,consequentlyboostingthecountry’sinvestmentandcredit
ratings.Thereisconsensus,however,thatsuchgrowthhasyettobetranslatedintocreatingmore
jobsforthepeople,reducingpovertyandinequality.Inordertodothis,thenextadministration
hastosustainthelevelofgrowthinthenextDivetotenyears,continuetoexpandthe
manufacturingsector,democratizeassetdistributionintheruralsectorwhilemodernizing
agriculture,andimplementasoundindustrialpolicyhingedonpreparingFilipinoindustriesand
agriculturetobecomemorecompetitiveunderacontinuouslyglobalizingworld.
Thefollowingarekeyandactionablepolicyissuesnecessarytopursueinclusivegrowth,asset
reform,andpovertyreduction:
• CompletionoftheComprehensiveAgrarianReformProgram(CARP)coupledwith
•
•
•
•
•
•
improvingfarmproductivityandincomes;
EnactmentoftheCoconutFarmersTrustFundBill,ensuringthatrecoveredcocolevy
fundsandassetsbeneDitsmallcoconutfarmersandrehabilitatethecoconutindustry;
PassageofabillthatwillreformthePhilippineCoconutAuthority(PCA)thatistruly
responsivetotheneedsofthecoconutfarmersandtheindustrythrough:1)a
broadenedmandatethatisnotlimitedtojustcopraandoilbuthighervalue-added
coconutproducts,2)theremovalofpalmoilfromitsoriginalmandate;3)providing
greaterparticipationofcoconutfarmersandworkersintheinstitution'spolicymakingbodybyallottingmoreseatsintheboard,4)developingcoco-based
communityenterpriseswherecoconutfarmersarerealpartnersanddecision
makers,5)strengtheningtheinstitution’sresearchanddevelopmentwork,and
6)ensuringthatincreasedproductivitywillcontributegreatlytoincreasedincomesof
thecoconutfarmers;
EnactmentofthelongoverdueNationalLandUseAct,inordertoinstitutionalizea
nationalframeworkonlanduseintermsofprotection,production,settlements,and
infrastructure;
ImplementtheNationalFisheriesIndustryDevelopmentProgramthatisbasedon
sustainablecoastalandDisheriesresourcemanagement,preventingillegaland
unregulatedDishingpractices,ensuringlivelihoodandshelterforartisanalDisherfolk
throughaFisherfolkSettlementProgram,andestablishingaFishFundtodevelop
thecapacitiesofLGUsthroughintegratedcoastalresourcemanagement;
PassageofanAlternativeMiningLaw,ensuringthemanagementofmineralresources
towardsasustainableapproachofusingandprotectingthecountry'snatural
resources,andprotectionofancestraldomainsofindigenouspeoples;
EnactmentoftheSecurityofTenureBilltoprotectworkers’rightsfromunfair
contractualization.
2) ChallengestowardsGreaterSocialProtection
EveniftherehavebeensigniDicantincreasesintheincomeofthepoorastheeconomysustainsits
paceofgrowth,othersslide(back)intopoverty.Seniorcitizenslosetheirincomeswhentheycan
nolongerwork;familiesmustsacriDicecashincomesthatteenagersarenolongerabletoearn
whentheyproceedtohighschool;peoplegetsick;andincreasinglythesedays,livelihoodsare
washedawaybystormsorwitheredbyextremeheat.Yet,theabilityofpeopletocopewithsuch
risksisatthecoreoftheirabilitytopartakeofthehighreturnsfromtheeconomicgrowththatwe
boastissecondonlytoChina.
Thepolicyrecommendationsare:
• Adoptasocialized/equitableSocialSecuritySystem(SSS)pensionincrease,which
entailsanincreasethatvariesaccordingtothepensionamountbeingreceivedbythe
beneDiciaries.SpeciDically,higherpensionincreaseisproposedtobegiventothose
whoarecurrentlyreceivinglesscomparedtoothersasidentiDiedthroughapovertybasedmechanismthatwillbedeveloped.TheSSSbeneDitprogrammusthavewider
latitudeforsocialprotectionbeyondmerepension-provision.Moreover,
representationofthebasicsectorsthroughtheNAPCmustbeupheldbyreforming
theSSSBoard;
EnsureuseofPhilHealthcardstoprovideadequateVinancialsupportforhealthcare
•
services.ThiswillencouragemoreFilipinostoseekhealthcarewhennecessaryand
protectthosewhoarealreadybeneDittingfromtheexpandedpremiumsubsidyfrom
unduecostsofseekinghealthcare.Focusmustbegiventopersonswithdisabilities
(PWDs),indigenouspeoples,Disherfolk,farmers,andurbanpoor;
• SecureVinancialsupportforthePhilHealthCoverageofallSeniorCitizensby
compellingtheDepartmentofBudgetandManagementtoexpandthePhilHealth
premiumsubsidytoincludeseniorswhoareshiftingfrombeingdependentsoftheir
familytoPhilHealthmembersthemselves.Afterall,actualcollectionsfromtheSinTax
consistentlyexceededthetargetsfor2013and2014.Inparticular,therewasan
excessofP17.2Billionin2013andP7.3Billionin2014,whichismorethanenoughto
coverthenecessarypremium;
Expand4Pscoverageandre-calibratetoincludeolderchildrenandtheirfamilies.
•
Althoughuniversalaccesstoprimaryeducationhasbeenachieved,4Psmaybe
expandedtotargetincreasingthelowcompletionrateof78.5percent.Also,linking
4Psparentstoexistinggovernmentprogramsoncapacitybuildingandemployment
(e.g.,cashforwork,TESDAtrainings,etc.)willhelpprovideincomesoparentscan
supporttheirchildrenuntiltheygraduate,aswellasreplacetheincomethatthese
childrenusedtoearn.Suchmeasuresalsohelpkeepchildrenoutsideofthelabor
force;
EnactmentofthePositiveDisciplineandAnti-CorporalPunishmentBilltoeliminate
•
violenceagainstchildrencommittedinthepretenseofdiscipline.Thiswillensure
thatchildrenareprotectedfromtraditionalviolentmethodsandtheuseofpositive
andnon-violentformsofdisciplineispromoted;
Increaseprogramsthattargetsdecreasesinmaternalmortalityandteenage
•
pregnancies.Suchgender-responsiveprogramsincludesfasterroll-outof
reproductivehealtheducationforevenyoungerwomen,promotingbirthsattended
byskilledhealthpersonnel,andcapacitatinglocalpublichealthfacilitiesinrural
healthunitsandbarangayhealthstationstodeliverappropriatematernalcare
services.Menmustalsobemadeawareandinvolvedinordertoprovideactivecare
andsupport;
• Universalizeprogramsthatsupportthebankabilityoftheenterprisingruralpoor.
•
Rationalizebutscale-upandexpandcreditenhancement/guaranteeschemesfornew
agrarianreformbeneDiciaries,landlessfarmers,indigenouspeoples–noneofwhom
havecollateralthattheycanoffertobanks.Infusethemandatedfundsintothe
PhilippineDevelopmentTrustFundsothatorganizing,capacitybuilding,
developmentofcooperatives,andsocialenterpriseinnovationforbankability–will
takeplacenotjustforagrarianreformbeneDiciariesevenasDepartmentofAgrarian
Reform(DAR)windsdownitsoperations;and
ReformtheNationalHousingAuthorityandinstitutionalizePeople’sPlanFund.Of
70,000housingunitsbuiltbyNHAinMega-Manilainrecentyears,11,000to22,000
housesremainunoccupied.ThedefaultruleoftheNHAistobuildhousesfarfromthe
city,withlittleregardforthefactthatneitherservicesnorpublicutilitiesexistinsuch
places.ThisdespitethefactthataJointMemorandumCircularsignedin2013byten
cabinetsecretariesandtheNHAmandatesthatrelocationhastobeonsiteandin-city.
RelocationhastobeorganizedonthebasisofaPeople’sPlan.Thepeople’splanning
approachisbestservedifthisisinternalizedwithinNHA’sprocessesandifthescale
andscopeofSocialHousingandFinanceCorporation(SHFC)andLGUand
community-co-productionprogramsareexpanded.Only₱41billionofthepromised
₱50billionfundbythePresidenthassofarbeenused.Itisalsonecessaryto
institutionalizethePeople’sPlanandallocate₱50billioneachforLuzon,Visayas,and
MindanaooverthenextDiveyearsforthehousingofinformalsectorfamilies.
3) CreatingtheSpacesforEconomicInclusion,FacilitatingMobilityandEmployment
Opportunitiestoincludethepoorineconomicprocessescanbeprovidedthroughimproved
transportationnetworks,accesstosustainableemploymentanddecentwork,andeducation
opportunitieswithincitiesandruralareas.Assuch,insteadofpushingpeopleoutofthecities
throughresettlementoraccommodatingtheminthefringes(indangerzones,alongrailways,
esteros,etc.),policiesshouldmakebothruraldevelopmentandurbanizationworkforboththe
poorandnon-poor.Inparticular,fundsourceslinkinghousingandemploymentcanbedrawn
fromgovernmentinvestmentsandprivatepropertyownersandspeculators.Suchinitiativescan
bestbecomplementedthroughthedevelopmentofsecondaryhubsanddevelopmentofan
industryroadmapinruralandurbanareas.ThisintensiDiesthegroundsforthedevelopmentofa
soundindustrialpolicy.
• AllocatesixtosevenpercentofGDPforinfrastructureinvestmentstoincrease
mobilityamongurbanandruralworkers.Accesstoemploymentandlivelihood
opportunities,morethanhousing,isoneofthefactorsthatdrawpeopletocities.Atthe
sametime,thecostandtimeincurredintravelingfromurbantoruralareas(andvise
versa)pointoutaneedtosearchforalternativemeasurestofundinfrastructure
programs.Asubsidizedschemeshouldbedevelopedandamechanismfordrawing
fundsfromcapitalinvestmentsmustbeexplored;
• FullimplementationofAccessibilityLaw(BatasPambansa344)andEqual
OpportunityforEmploymentLaw(RA10524)anchoredontheUnitedNations
ConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilitiesforinclusivedevelopmentof
personswithdisabilities(PWDs);
• InstitutionalizationofEO417willensurethatPWDsareprovidedwithsustainableand
long-termlivelihoodprogramsandemployment;
• SourcesofVinanceforhousingcanalsobedrawnfromfuturepublicinvestmentsin
transportinfrastructureandfrompropertyownersandspeculators.
Transportationnetworkscanbedevelopedgiventheincreaseinlandpricesincities.
Propertyownersandspeculatorsresidingongovernmentlandcanbetaxed.The
existingPhilippineNationalRailway(PNR)andtheMRT-LRTsystems,whichareprime
real-estateproperties,canbeusedtolinkthecitycenterstothetransportation
backbonesortoperipheralareas;
• Createaninfrastructureprogramforsecondarytownsandperi-urbanareas.
Infrastructureprogramsshouldprovideforsustainableemploymentanddecentwork,if
notenhancedmobilitytoareasofemployment.Assuch,stationsshouldconsiderthe
locationofmarketstoaccountfortheneedsofworkers.Whileregionaldevelopment
strategiesseektodecongestthecenter(toareasofdevelopmentsuchasRegionsIIIand
IV-A),nationalroadnetworksandtransportcorridorshavetobelinkedtoremotetowns
andtosecondaryurbanhubs.Thisway,investors,especiallyinagro-processing
manufactureswillmoveoutoftheircomfortzonesinourcongestedmetropolitanareas
tosecondaryhubs.Atthesametime,workerswillnolongerneedtogotothecities,
sincetheirlaborpowerwillbeembeddedintheproductsthattraveltothecities;
• IncorporatetheDepartmentofTradeandIndustry’sindustryroadmapsintothe
PhilippineDevelopmentPlan.Sustainableemploymentanddecentworkcanbebest
ensuredbyprovidingindustrysectorroadmapsthatindicatethelocationof,for
instance,food,manufacturingorautomotiveindustries;
• ContinuetoadopttheAcceleratedandSustainedApproachtoPovertyReduction
(ASAPP),astrategythatcreatessecondarygrowthhubsinthecountry’s10poorest
provincesbyimprovinggovernment’sdeliveryandconvergencemechanismstocreate
morejobsintheseareas.
4) Climateresilience
ThePhilippinesisoneofthemosthighlyvulnerablecountriestodisastersbroughtaboutby
climatechangedespiteitsminimalcontributionofcarbonemissions.Resilientcommunities
shouldbeournewnormal.Forthis,thepolicyrecommendationsare:
• Acomprehensivedisasterriskreductionandclimatechangeadaptationprogramthat
•
•
•
•
integrateseffortsatthenationalaswellaslocallevelsinordertoensure
comprehensiveandappropriatepre-during-postsolutionsandinitiativestodisasters.
LGUs,especiallythosewithlessstructuralandDinancialcapacity,mustbeprovided
thenecessarysupporttoensurethattheycomplywiththemandatetoinstitutionalize
localdisasterriskreductionmanagementofDices(LDRRMO).InsuchofDices,greater
people’sparticipationandrepresentationmustbeincorporatedindisasterrisk
reductionandmanagementgovernanceatalllevels;
ExpeditedimplementationofthePeople’sSurvivalFundlaw(RA9729);
EnactmentoftheInternallyDisplacedPersons(IDP)Billfortheprotectionoftherights
oftheIDPsintimesofdisasters,bothnaturalandhuman-made;
Anenhancednationalgreeningprogramthatservesnotonlytheobjectiveofmassive
genuinereforestationeffortstoregeneratethecountry’sforests,butalsoaddresses
theproblemofbalancingeconomicdevelopment(usingeasilyharvestabletrees)and
environmentalprotection(ensuringtheplantedseedlingsgrowandeventually
matureintoahealthyecosystem).Illegalloggingremainsrampantsoforest
protection,fromillegalsettlersburningtreesforcharcoaltobigcorporations,mustbe
guaranteed;and
ImplementationofRenewablesEnergyActof2008(RA9513)foramoreproactiveeffort
fromthegovernmenttostarttheroll-outofchoosingpowerplantsthatutilize
renewablesoverfossilfuels,andtheeventualphase-outofcoal-Diredpowerplants.
5) Politicalreformsandpeople’sempowerment
Politicalreformsincludegoodgovernancestrategies,anti-corruption,andlayingdown
mechanismstoempowerthepoorandmarginalized.TheAquinoadministrationclaimsthatthe
unprecedentedeconomicgrowthisaby-productoftheDaangMatuwidvision,whereGood
GovernanceisavitalpartoftheequationthatleadstoInclusiveGrowth.
Policyrecommendationsare:
• Ensureparticipatorygovernanceatalllevelswhereorganizedgroupsarerepresentedin
•
•
•
economicplanningandothermechanisms.Basicsectorparticipationmustbe
ensuredinalllevelsofplanningandbudgetingprocessesinallgovernmentbodies,
includinggovernmentownedandcontrolledcorporations,aspartofthegovernance
frameworkonthePhilippineDevelopmentPlan.Theinclusionofsectoral
representativesthetheAutonomousRegioninMuslimMindanaomustbeensured;
ContinuedimplementationofBottom-upBudgetingtofurthersupportandprovide
fundingrequirementsforthedevelopmentneedsoforganizations,municipalities,and
cities.Theimbalanceofbargainingpowerbetweencivilsocietyorganizations(CSO)
andLGUswiththeBuBmustbecorrectedbycreatinganempowermentfundfor
CSOs;
Passageofanenablinglawonaccesstoinformation,suchastheFreedomofInformation
Billtoensurefulldisclosureofpublicdocuments,promotetransparencyandaccess
togovernmentinformation,andthereforeaidinanti-corruptionmeasures;and
EnactmentoftheAnti-PoliticalDynastyBill.
6)Longlastingpeacetowardsinclusivedevelopment
Ensuringequitableaccesstoproductiveassetsandeconomicdevelopmentremainsacrucial
challengeforthenextadministrationnotonlyinordertosustainthegrowthachievedthusfar,but
alsotoaddresstheconditionthathasfuelleddecades-oldinsurgenciesinthecountry.Special
focusmustbegiventoMindanaowhereMororebelgroups’strugglesforself-governanceand
indigenouspeople’sDightforancestraldomaincontinuetosparkviolentconfrontationswith
governmentforcesandwithothercommunities.Maintainingopencommunicationlineswithrebel
groupsisanimportantsteptowardsachievinglastingpeaceanddevelopment.
Othermeasuresworthconsideringfortheincomingadministrationarethefollowing:
• Immediateresolutionofjustice-relatedcasessuchasthe2015Mamasapanoincident
•
•
•
andthe2010Maguindanaomassacre;
Resumptionand,ifpossible,conclusionofthepeaceprocesswiththeNational
DemocraticFrontandtheMoroIslamicLiberationFront;
PassageofaBangsamoroBasicLawinthespiritofpromotinglong-lastingpeaceand
economicdevelopmentinMindanao;and
Recognitionandprotectionoftheindigenouspeople’srightsovertheirancestral
domain,includingtherighttodecidethekindofdevelopmenttheydeemsuitablefor
themselves,asintherecentcaseinvolvingtheLumads.