Amid reselected as Provincial IPMR of Apayao

Incumbent Provincial Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) John Anthony S. Amid was reselected for another three-year term after securing the majority vote of duly authorized selectors during the Second Provincial IPMR Assembly held on January 27, 2026, at the LMP Building, Apayao Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex in San Gregorio, Luna.

The re-selection was conducted by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in accordance with the Revised National Guidelines on the Mandatory Representation of Indigenous Peoples.

The assembly was facilitated by Atty. Mark Anthony C. Tungpalan, NCIP OIC Legal Officer, and attended by representatives from Municipal Service Centers, municipal and barangay IPMRs, members of the Apayao Council of Indigenous Elders and Leaders (ACIELs), tribal leaders, elders, and selectors from the province’s seven municipalities.

With no other nominee for the position, Amid was formally proclaimed by Humphrey Anapen of the DILG.

In his acceptance message, Amid thanked the selectors, elders, and Indigenous leaders for the trust, describing his re-selection as a responsibility and a mandate to continue representing IPs in provincial governance. He reiterated that the IPMR serves as a link between Indigenous communities and the provincial government, particularly on matters affecting ancestral domains, culture, and development.

Amid said he will continue to push for the protection of ancestral lands, the preservation of Indigenous culture, and the inclusion of IP concerns in provincial policies and programs. He also emphasized the need for collective action to ensure that development initiatives remain respectful of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

He further expressed intent to work with provincial leaders and stakeholders toward the formulation of an Indigenous Peoples Development Plan aligned with the province’s overall development framework.