Case Study - Philippines Metagora Pilot Project

CHAPTER 1: CONCEPTUALISATION OF THE PROJECT (page 1)

1.1 THE PROJECT AND STUDY OBJECTIVES

1.1.1 Background

The Metagora project aims to bring statistical analysis into the heart of monitoring democracy, human rights and governance (DHRG) and to promote proper matching of quantitative and qualitative approaches with the intent of enhancing human rights reporting, governance evaluation and assessment of democracy. Metagora is policy-oriented in scope, multi-disciplinary in approach, and inclusive and participatory in method. Metagora focuses on evidenced-based monitoring of progress in the fields of democracy, human rights and governance.

The Philippines was chosen as one of the locations for evidenced-based national human rights diagnosis and monitoring under Metagora. This pilot survey covers three selected ancestral domains and involves the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) as Partner Implementing Organisation (PIO) in collaboration with three national statistical agencies – the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the National Statistics Office (NSO), and the Statistical Research and Training Centre (SRTC) -- and in cooperation with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), academia and NGOs. As the national human rights institution and independent commission established under the Philippine Constitution, CHRP (as PIO) ascertains that the pilot study proceeds according to acceptable quality standards.

There are 140 indigenous ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines, representing 20% of the total population. Because of historical discrimination and exploitation, they are considered marginalised and vulnerable. Current development efforts recognise the need to put the indigenous peoples (IPs) in the centre of the development agenda, particularly in ascertaining that their rights are protected and fulfilled. The study is considered a milestone in that it will provide a benchmark on important aspects of IPs’ level of awareness, knowledge and practices concerning their ancestral domains and ancestral lands albeit on a pilot level.

At the global level, this project – together with the other studies conducted in other countries under Metagora - aims to address the need for evidence-based policy-making impact studies that will eventually result in draft guidelines for measuring, assessing and monitoring issues related to democracy, human rights and governance.

1.1.2 Objectives

1.1.2.1 Project Objectives

The “2005 Pilot Study on the Diagnosis of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights to Ancestral Domains in the Philippines” is one of the national pilot activities under Metagora. This project aims to develop methods and statistical tools using quantitative and qualitative approaches that will attempt to diagnose the current human rights situation among indigenous peoples. The development of the methods and tools shall be the result of a process of dialogue, consultation and consensus-building using the bottom-up approach between and among the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) as Partner Implementing Organisation (PIO), its strategic partners, other governance stakeholders and indigenous peoples (IPs) and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs).

A pilot survey complemented by qualitative study approaches will achieve the above project objectives. The results of the survey are expected to improve and objectify reporting on the enjoyment and/or violations of the rights of indigenous peoples by the identified duty-bearers. Focus group discussions and local consultations that will complement the survey are anticipated to generate results that will enhance the programme and policy measures for effective governance of indigenous peoples’ rights using rights-based norms and standards in a democratic setting.

1.1.2.2 Study Objectives

To study aims to:

• Determine the level of awareness and perceptions of IPs on their rights to ancestral domains and ancestral lands;

• Describe their enjoyment/realisation and/or violations of rights to their ancestral domains and ancestral lands;

• Identify measures provided to IPs by governance stakeholders to enhance/facilitate the enjoyment of their rights to ancestral domains and ancestral lands; and

• Describe mechanisms used by IPs from their respective communities and the government to redress their grievances due to violation of their rights to ancestral domains and ancestral lands.