Philippine E-Journals

Level of Awareness of Aetas of their Fundamental Rights

Milagrosa A. Lawas | Dennis Albert N. Gonzales

Discipline: Law, Criminology

 

Abstract:

The study is focused on how well the Aetas in Barangay Tongko, Tayabas, Quezon are aware of their social, economic and political rights as prescribed by our social laws from the perspective of a modernizing society and implications of this level of awareness to Republic Act 8371 also known as the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA). Basically a descriptive-survey research, the study used interview with purposively selected Aeta respondents 18 years old and above. Also, a questionnaire that elicited the socio-economic profile of the respondents and their level of awareness and their views on their fundamental social, economic and political rights was administered. The findings of the study point to the high level of awareness of the rights of the Aetas in the barangay surveyed. Moreover, they could articulate their beliefs and views when it comes to the exercise of their basic rights. They expect the government to guarantee their basic rights, specifically on the right to food, shelter, education, health, job opportunities, and suffrage among others. It is recommended that government be more responsive in guaranteeing the rights of the Aetas through effective measures. They suggest seminars on labor and workers’ rights and better housing programs.