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MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ PROCLAMATION NO. 486, October 13, 2003 ]

DECLARING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2003 AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER AS “NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THANKSGIVING DAY”

WHEREAS, the Constitution mandates the recognition, protection and protection of the rights of indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs) with the framework of national unity and development;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 8371, dated October 29, 1997, known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) carried into effect the aforementioned Constitutional mandate;

WHEREAS, there is a need to accord due recognition of, and focus national attention to, the importance of this event as it marks a significant milestone in the history of our nation, and the ICCs/IPs comprising about seventeen (17%) percent of the national population;

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the ICCs/IPs and other sectors, including concerned government agencies, be given full opportunity to observe the event on October 29, 2003 and every year thereafter as a national ICC/IP thanksgiving day;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Wednesday, October 29, 2003 and every year thereafter as "NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THANKSGIVING DAY"

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 13th day of October in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

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