Seeing the unseen: Philippine Indigenous Peoples’ contributions to planet, people, and prosperity

The Philippines is home to a remarkable diversity of Indigenous Peoples. According to government data for 2020, around 9.84 million Filipinos, or 9.1 percent of the household population, identified as Indigenous Peoples. They belong to 228 distinct Indigenous Peoples groups spread predominantly in Luzon and Mindanao.

Indigenous communities have long shaped the nation’s development. Indigenous Peoples are most often linked to environmental and cultural stewardship, and rightly so. Many ancestral domains where Indigenous Peoples live overlap with forests, mountains, rivers, coastal ecosystems, and areas rich in biodiversity which have benefited from knowledge and traditions handed down through generations. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the rice terraces of the Cordilleras carved and maintained by Indigenous Ifugao knowledge and technology are perhaps the most famous testament of this intertwined guardianship.

Yet sadly, while they comprise a tenth of the population, Indigenous Peoples still often remain unseen and their wider economic, social, and governance contributions are taken for granted. It is in this spirit that the United Nations continues to elevate and draw attention to Indigenous Peoples to showcase their invaluable contributions across multiple dimensions and supports platforms for them to do so.

Recognize Indigenous Peoples contributions

A prime example is Lake Sebu which recently joined at least 300 villages worldwide as the first Philippine member of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Villages Global Network. The Indigenous T’boli and Ubo-Manobo communities of Lake Sebu were recognized, among other things, for stewardship of traditional rice and crop varieties. Beyond preserving the natural environment, those Indigenous Peoples’ cultural practices have led to significant economic benefits through better livelihoods and contributed to greater food security for rural communities.

Within many Indigenous communities, midwives play a critical role as trusted caregivers in the care economy who provide health support that is difficult for women to access through formal health systems, particularly in remote areas. UNFPA has worked in the past with Indigenous Arumanen Manobo midwives and their broader community to provide accessible reproductive health care services that took traditional practices into consideration.

Indigenous peoples also contribute to improving governance of the ancestral domains where they live. Indigenous Ata, Tagakaulo, Blaan, Obo Monuvu, Tboli and Manobo women and girls, with support from UNDP, are directly shaping the development and investment plans with their traditional knowledge, local priorities, and cultural practices to ensure the food security and improve the livelihoods for their respective communities.

Enable Indigenous Peoples to be heard

Beyond recognizing the value of their contributions, the United Nations helps create spaces where Indigenous Peoples can speak about their priorities, share their knowledge, and take part in decisions that affect their communities. These spaces matter because meaningful participation is not simply about being present in the room or mentioned in a policy. It is about being heard with respect and ensuring that their perspectives can shape the plans, investments, and partnerships that touch their lands, livelihoods, and futures.

As we mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples not only as guardians of culture and nature, but as partners in building a fairer and more sustainable future. Seeing their contributions more clearly also asks something practical of us: to open doors, to listen carefully, and to make room for Indigenous Peoples’ voices to guide the choices that concern them. By giving them real opportunities to be heard, we all gain from the wisdom, experience, and leadership their Indigenous heritage has long offered.