text: partyunderlined thatherGovernment maintained nodipl~matic re.lations withthe Goverl~ent ofSouthAfrica. 279.Withregardtoarticle 4oftheConvention, therepresentative explained that DecreeNo.l350-Adeclared illegal, andprovided apenalty for,allor~anizations andorganized activities thatpromoted andincited discrimination. Whileno complaints ofracialdiscrimination hadbeenbrought beforethecourts inthepast, -56-.... theheightened awareness oftheirrights amongtheindigenous communities had increased thelikelihood ofsuchcomplaints beinglodged. 280.Regarding questions raisedinrelation toarticle 5oftheConvention, the representative explained thatthePhilippines, composed of7,100islands, had ~ richlinguistic culture, withsome80identifiable languages falling into 20groups, andthattheprinciple wasnowaccepted thatnational identity could onlybeenriched bypreserving anddeveloping thelanguages andcultures of different groups. Although nospecial schools forthepurpose ofeducating minorities existed, theneedtopromote Bnddevelop thecultural heritage ofthe various ethnicgroups hadbeenrecognized bytheGovernment. Regional educational offices hadtherefore beenmaderesponsible fordevising regionally relevant curricula tosupplement thenational corecurriculum. Thefirstthreeyearsof schooling wereinFilipino andregional languages, withEuglish beinqintr',duced in thefourthyear. Furt~.ermore, a"tentschool" project., whichprovided schooling forchildren innomadic tribalgroups, hadbeenlaunched. Referring toother questions, sheemphaeized thataccording toarticle 12oftheConstitution, the Stateshouldprotect therightsofindigenous communities totheirancestral lands inordertoensuratheireconomic, social andcultural well-being. She ~ddedthat theguidelines fordetermining thedistribution andidentification oftherelands werecurrently beingconsidered inthelegislature, andthatburialgroundS and sacredgroun1s ofindigenous populations hadalready beenidentified asancestral lands. 281.Replying toquestions ontheoffices established toprotect andpromote the interests ofcultural communities, therepresentative explained thatuntil1987, therehadbeenonly on~office, calledtheOfficeofNational Integration, andthat itschiefhadusually beenappointed fromtheMuslim community. Because ofthe risingawareness ofothercultural communities, threeseparate cgencies hadbeen createdl theOfficeofMuslimAffairs, theOfficeofNorthern Cultural Communities concerned withhilltribesandethnic communities, mainlyinthelandofLuzon, and theOfficeofSouthern Cultural Communities. concerned withallcommunities other thantheMuslim community. Sheaddedthatacultural community wasonewhich shared acommon anddistinctive heritage aswellascommonsocial andeconomic structures, thatthephysical differences between thosegroupswereveryslight and thattheysharedcultural ratherthanracialfeatures. Z82.Responding tootherquestions, therepresentative statedthatduring aperio~ ofabouttwoyears,va=ious Muslimgroups, ImamsandMuslimscholars inthe Philippines andArabcountries hadbeenconsulted andhadprepared aShariah Code forthePhilippines, thatithadbeenenacted intolaw,thatitwasapplicable to allMuslims inthePhilippines andthatShariah courts hadbeenestablished to implement andinterpret theCode. 283.Therepresentative addedthattheConstitution guaranteed therightstowork, toorganize andtoenterintocollective bargaining, eventhoughtheir implementation wasendangered bytheproblem ofunemployment andunderemployment facedbythecountry. Lastly, sheemphasized thatmeasureR hadbeentakento facilitate accesstothecivilservice andregional administrations, thatMuslims, beingthedominant minority group,heldmanyelectoral andgovernment positions, thatvarious cultural communitites wererepresented intheCongress andthatthe Supreme Courtwascurrently deciding onthemostappropriate procedure forthe appointment ofsectoral representatives. -57-Senegal 284.Theeighthperiodic reportofSenegal (CERD/C/l58/Add.3) wasconsidered bythe
analysis: The text appears to be a government report discussing the Philippines' efforts to comply with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It covers various aspects of the country's policies and practices related to indigenous communities, cultural diversity, and human rights. The report touches on education, employment, culture, and constitutional guarantees, which suggests a focus on social and cultural development.