Baguio council seeks specific indigenous identities in health records

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The city council urged the City Health Services Office (CHSO) to replace the general term “Igorot” with specific ethnolinguistic classifications in its official forms and patient records to ensure more accurate representation of indigenous peoples in the Cordillera.

According to the council, the request was made through Resolution No. 834-2026, which adopted Resolution No. 06-2026 of the Office of Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Maximo Edwin Jr.

The resolution recommends removing “Igorot” as a general ethnolinguistic category in CHSO forms, databases and patient records and replacing it with specific classifications recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

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It also recommends including an “Others (please specify)” option to allow patients to identify their own ethnolinguistic affiliation, orienting health personnel on the changes, and periodically reviewing the classifications in consultation with indigenous communities and other stakeholders.

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According tro the measure, “Igorot” is recognized as a collective term referring to various indigenous cultural communities and peoples in the Cordillera Administrative Region, rather than a single distinct ethnolinguistic group. Its use as a specific classification could therefore result in the misrepresentation of indigenous identities.

The resolution also cites Republic Act No. 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, which upholds the principles of self-identification and cultural integrity and respect for indigenous peoples.

The council’s Committee on Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Cultural Communities recommended the approval of the measure. Copies of the resolution were also directed to the NCIP, the Office of the IPMR and other concerned offices for their information and appropriate action. /cb