Abante Tribung Makabansa (ATM), an assembly of indigenous people in Mindanao, is the first IP group to seek house representation. These assemblies represent the 18 major ethnographic tribes with 33 sub-tribes and inhabiting 57 cluster IP communities.
Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza expressed support to the group’s intention for seeking representation in the lower house.
This pushed the said sector to aim for a house representation aiming to gather enough funding for the implementation of the development plan. Aiming for a house seat through Party List election was then pushed for the assurance of IP rights and welfare advocated in the Philippine Congress. (PIA)
