DepEd Memorandum 094, s. 2025
Observance of the National Indigenous Peoples Month 2025
OCT 10 2025
DepEd MEMORANDUM
No. 094, s. 2025
OBSERVANCE OF THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MONTH 2025
To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Minister, Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, BARMM
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Public and Private Elementary and Secondary School Heads
Attached Agencies
All Others Concerned
1. The Department of Education (DepEd), pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1906, s. 2009, Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act together with its Implementing Rules and Regulations, DepEd Order (DO) No. 62, s. 2011 titled National Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) Policy Framework, and the K to 12 Basic Education Program, will lead the Observance of the National Indigenous Peoples Month in October 2025, ensuring the promotion of awareness and appreciation of the Indigenous Peoples' cultural heritage and history.
2. For this year's observance, DepEd shall be guided by the theme, Ating Pandayin ang Kinabukasan, Gabay ang Katutubong Karunungan at Karapatan. 2025 is a milestone year for DepEd's IPEd Program as it enters its second decade of strengthening school-level implementation. This process commenced in 2015 with the training of regional teams on curriculum contextualization, leading to the progressive development of contextualized lesson plans and learning resources to be used by IPEd implementing schools.
3. This second decade, the IPEd Program moves forward embracing the challenges of contemporary developments like the digital learning landscape while remembering that, through the centuries, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPs) that have withstood the test of time, continue to find relevance in a changing world. The continued application and development of these relevant IKSPs in the current times are part of the cultural rights of IP communities that DepEd has committed to uphold. The use of contemporary and emerging technologies, when anchored on this commitment, ensures that the younger generations of IPs will continue celebrating, developing, and advocating for their cultural heritages, ensuring that inclusion continues to be upheld, whatever directions for the future the succeeding generations may take.
4. The regional offices (ROs), schools division offices (SDOs), and schools are enjoined to observe and support, through various commemorative and advocacy activities, the celebration of the IP Month. Relevant activities may be conducted from October and in the succeeding months of the school year, as schedules permit.
5. The activities to be conducted shall observe relevant protocols that include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. In dialogue with partner IP communities at the school, schools division, and/ or regional level, activities should be culturally appropriate, guided by DO 51, s. 2014 (Guidelines on the Conduct of Activities and Use of Materials Involving Aspects of Indigenous Peoples Culture), and aligned with the key messages discussed;
b. With adherence to DO 9, s. 2005 (Instituting Measures to Increase Engaged Time-on-Task and Ensuring Compliance Therewith), ensure that classes shall not be interrupted by school-level celebrations;
c. In lieu of a separate celebration at the school level, discussions related to the theme can be integrated into lessons in the appropriate subject areas as stipulated in DO 012, s. 2025 (Multi-Year Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities);
d. For ROs and SDOs, the conduct of advocacy activities should involve the appropriate DepEd personnel to ensure continuous classes at the school level as directed by DO O 12, s. 2025;
e. Hanging of streamers/banners in strategic places in the vicinity of DepEd offices only (an electronic file can be accessed through this link: https://tinyurl.com/2025-IPMonth-AdvoMats); and f. Featuring the event and other IPEd-related activities on the website and other communications media of the ROs, SDOs, and schools.
6. To maximize activities in relation to the theme, regions and divisions are highly encouraged to consider the conduct of focus group discussions with community elders/leaders/culture bearers, parents, school heads, teachers and learners, focusing on the assessment of the IPEd Program's first 10 years of implementation and the identification of continuing concerns that need to be addressed in the second decade of the program.
7. The said observance can also be an opportunity to deepen the awareness, knowledge, and understanding of DepEd personnel on key DepEd policies on IPEd, such as DO 32, s, 2015 (Adopting the Indigenous Peoples Education Curriculum Framework), the implementation of the IPEd Program, as well as the United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (online resources are available at https://bit.ly/UNRightsIPs).
8. ROs and SDOs, through the IPEd Focal Persons, shall ensure the proper coordination of activities and compliance with the guidance provided in this Memorandum. Expenses incurred relative to the conduct of activities shall be charged to IPEd PSF /local funds, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
9. For inquiries, please contact the Bureau of Learning Delivery-Indigenous Peoples Education Office, Ground Floor, Mabini Building, DepEd Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City through email at ipseo@deped.gov.ph or mobile number 0977-842-1007.
10. Immediate dissemination of this Memorandum is desired.
By Authority of the Secretary:
(SGD) ATTY. FATIMA LIPP D. PANONTONGAN
Undersecretary and Chief of Staff
Reference:
DepEd Order (Nos. 012, s. 2025;32, s.2015; 51, s. 2014; 62, s.2011; 9, s. 2005)
DepEd Memorandum No. 060, s. 2024
To be indicated in the Perpetual Index
under the following subjects:
BUREAUS AND OFFICES
CELEBRATIONS AND FESTIVALS
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES EDUCATION
OFFICIALS
PROGRAMS
SCHOOLS
A full copy of DepEd Memorandum No. 094, s. 2025 below:
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