Members of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and other Indigenous peoples of Pangasinan can now avail themselves of free legal aid from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
In a statement, the IBP Pangasinan Chapter said it signed on Wednesday, April 27, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Pangasinan Provincial Office “to provide legal aid to identified Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs).”
The MOU was signed by IBP Pangasinan Chapter President Michael Camilo G. Datario and NCIP Pangasinan Provincial Officer Dr. Enrique P. delos Santos Jr.
“Based on the MOU, NCIP-Pangasinan shall endorse IBP Pangasinan to the different ICCs/IPs as its partner in the provision of legal aid and assist the Chapter in its Legal aid programs intended to address the concerns of IPs,” IBP Pangasinan said.
“Also, IBP Pangasinan shall provide legal aid, advice on appropriate linkages and support institutions and free legal consultation to identified ICCs/IPs,” it added.
During the signing of the MOA, IBP National President Burt M. Estrada called on lawyers to join the endeavor.
Estrada said:
“The harvest is plenty but the workers are few. A call for us, there is so many things to be done, there is so many programs in government, so many funds from private sector, international grants that are meant to help the indigenous peoples. But there are so few workers, especially lawyers that are needed in order to have that harvest. I invite all, especially our new lawyers to be a part of that harvest, be a harvester for indigenous peoples.”