does not shield them from being caught in the crossfire in the on- going armed conflicts in the country, many suffered as internally displaced persons (IDPs) and some killed or detained and tortured as suspected members of the armed opposition groups. Lack of access to basic social services, education, sustainable livelihood, farm-to-market roads, and health services contribute to their continuing poverty. In many cases, the onslaught of commercialism and modern culture came at the expense of maintaining their own culture and tradition (and thus their identity).“ 4 . “Indigenous peoples’ communities are found in the forests, mountains, lowlands and coastal areas of 65 provinces in the country and are in varied levels of socioeconomic development. They engage in a mix of production systems including swidden farming, settled agriculture, hunting and gathering, livestock raising, fishing and production and trade in local handicrafts. A common characteristic of indigenous peoples is their close attachment to ancestral land, territory and resources. The world view that “land is life” is deeply embedded in their existence. Indigenous peoples are among the poorest and most marginalized sectors of Philippine society. They experience neglect and discrimination in the provision of basic social services by the Government. The 2008 budget shows that regions with highest concentrations of indigenous peoples get the smallest allocations from the national government. Thus, social service provision in indigenous territories is far below that of the rest of the country. The general health situation in regions and provinces with the largest concentrations of indigenous peoples is below the national average. Indigenous peoples experience seasonal to chronic food shortages during the year. A major factor causing food insecurity and poverty among indigenous peoples is the loss of ancestral land due to displacement by development projects and extractive industries including mining, dams, logging or natural causes. Another factor is environmental degradation – destruction of forests, pollution of waters and loss of agrobiodiversity resulting from the impacts of extractive industries and agriculture modernization.”5                                                                                                                 4  Rey  Ty.  Indigenous  Peoples  in  the  Philippines:  Continuing  Struggle.  FOCUS  December  2010  Volume   Volume  62,  http://www.hurights.or.jp/archives/focus/section2/2010/12/indigenous-­‐peoples-­‐in-­‐ the-­‐      philippines-­‐continuing-­‐struggle.html   5  Jacqueline  K.  Cariño.  Country  Technical  Note  on  Indigenous  Peoples  Issues.  Republic  of  the  Philippines.   November  2012,  https://www.ifad.org/documents/10180/0c348367-­‐f9e9-­‐42ec-­‐89e9-­‐ 3ddbea5a14ac     7