Lawmakers seek inclusion of ethnic origins in national census

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers sought yesterday the inclusion of ethnic origins in the national census of the government, as there has been no accurate count of the members of various indigenous groups in the country.

Bayan Muna Reps. Teodoro Casiño and Neri Colmenares said about 9.1 million people belonging to indigenous groups in the country may have not been included in the national census.

Casiño cited the tribes of Tingguian, Isneg, Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Itawes, Malaweg, Yagad, Bugkalot, Gadding, Agta, Ati, Dumagat, Mangyan, Bangon, Tadyawan, Alangan, Iraya, Buhid, Taobuhid, Hanunuo, Ratagnon, Tagbanwa, Malbog, Batak, Taut bato, Manobo, Bagobo, Bilaan, Tiruray, Mandaya-Mansaka, Subanen, and Mamanwa.

It was estimated that the indigenous groups comprise about 10 to 15 percent of the country’s population, which has already reached about 91 million.

In filing House Bill 1460, the lawmakers said the inclusion of “the ethnicity indicator will generate disaggregated demographic data on the indigenous peoples, while the language indicator will produce data relevant to the ethno-linguistic groups in the country.”

Casiño said the national statistics fail to reflect the situation of the indigenous groups because data on them are hidden in national averages.

“Even to date, an accurate count of the indigenous people’s population in the country is not available,” he said.

Casiño said the law governing indigenous people’s rights is not fully realized because of the lack of data on the indigenous population in the country.