Month-long activities for the Indigenous Peoples in Davao City are to be expected with the launching of the IP Month, in time with the 26th Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) Commemoration, during the weekly flag ceremony on Monday.
The celebration is themed “Pagpapayaman ng Pamanang Kultural at Katutubong Yaman Tungo sa mas Maliwanag na Kinabukasan para sa Bagong Pilipinasâ.
The opening ceremony on Monday, participated by officials of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), visitors from various tribes, city officials, and city employees.
NCIP Provincial Officer Indalesio L. Diano, in an interview with the City Information Office after the weekly flag ceremony, bared that among the activities are tree planting in Barangay Tungkalan on October 6 and the IP Youth Celebration at the Philippine Women’s College on October 22.
“The youth will be able to show their talents and participate in seminars on youth empowerment,” Diano said, adding that youth from 11 tribes of Davao will be present at the event.
On the other hand, Davao City Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Rodolfo Mande said that medical outreach will be initiated by his office in line with IP Month.
“Kanang mga isolated communities, adtuan, dalaan og serbisyo sama sa medical dental ug panghatag pud og school supplies didto sa nga kabataang lumad didto sa kabukiran (Isolated communities will be provided services such as medical, dental, and school supplies will also be given to children in the hinterlands),” Mande said.
Tribal games and tribal weddings will also be conducted.
Mande added that with the monthly celebration, they will also be able to strengthen their Indigenous Political Structure and the Ancestral Domain Management Office (ADMO) in every tribe.
Mande said that as IPMR, he is only awaiting approval of the executive department for the creation of an IP Shelter at the Southern Philippines Medical Center so that IPs who are living in Paquibato and Marilog and are hospitalized at SPMC will have a place to stay.
He also said that legislation for the creation of an IP Dormitory is another thing being worked out. The facility will be intended for IP students, especially those who are in college and cannot afford boarding house fees at the city center.
During the flag ceremony, NCIP Commissioner Ms. Jennifer Pia T. Sibug-Las said in her message, read by Diano, that she commends the city government of Davao for its untiring support to the IPs during the past 26 years, citing that her office, in coordination with governmental offices, has always ensured the dignity and diversity of cultures, traditions, and histories of indigenous peoples are appropriately respected in all forms of situations, public information, public services and cultural exchange programs.
IPMR Mande, who hailed from the Matigsalug tribe, also praised the Davao City leadership for the non-discrimination that the IP communities experience here.
“Maayo kaayo ang pagtratar, nasinati namo ang pantay nga pagserbisyo ug kung gi-atiman man nila ang mga Kristiyano, ang mga Muslim ug mga IP, managsama ra, wala’y maingon nako nga diskriminasyon tungod kay pantay ang pagdumala diri sa Davao City sa lain-lain nga mga IP ( We receive good treatment. We experience fair service, they treat the Christians, Muslims, and IPs the same way, I cannot see any discrimination because Davao City treats the different IP tribes fairly),” Mande said. CIO
