Three major issues are considered to be crucial to the survival and development of the Philippines' indigenous peoples as distinct peoples: sovereignty over their ancestral domain; the right to preserve, promote and develop their own culture and identity with considerations of their dignity; and the right to continue and adapt their own political, social and judicial organizations.

These problems were taken into account by the Philippine government to accept and bring into force ILO Convention No. 169. The challenges calls for the immediate action by the government and its instrumentalities for the collective studies of the Convention within the Philippine context.