Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has assured pupils formerly schooled in Salugpongan and learning centers run by the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc. (MISFI) are accepted in public schools under the Department of Education (DepEd).
“Before nato gi-close tong mga Salugpongan nga naa diri sa Davao City, gi-ensure nato nga dunay Department of Education nga eskwelahan nga naga-operate in that area (Before we closed the Salugpongan schools in the city, we made sure DepEd schools are operating in that area),” Mayor Sara said.
Sara said there is no need for other schools not sanctioned by DepEd to operate especially those espousing anti-government practices.
The mayor also highlighted the city government’s interventions for the Indigenous People (IP) in Davao City like accessible DepEd or state-sanctioned learning centers for IPs and policies for the protection of the ancestral domain.
“Pagtabang nato sa proteksyon sa ilahang ancestral domain – ginabuhat na sa atoang Peace 911… and, ginapakusog nato ang political structure sa ilahang mga elders because ang decisions sa mga ancestral domain magikan sa ilahang mga elders and ultimately mag-redound sa ilahang mga anak ug mga apo (We are already protecting their ancestral domain through Peace 911 and we have strengthened their political structure because decisions over their ancestral domain come from the elders and redounded to their children and grandchildren),” the Mayor pointed out.
Sara also cited the city government’s scholarship program for the poor and the IPs.
The scholarship program is managed by the Educational Benefits System Unit (EBSU), which prioritizes the IPs who lacked opportunities to pursue higher education.
The program even produced three medical doctors who are members of the IP communities. CIO
