DAVAO DEL NORTE, Oct. 20 (PIA) - Five line agencies of the national government have entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on “Adopt an Indigenous Peoples Family Program” to provide a “Consolidated Package of Assistance to IPs of Davao del Norte”, with the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte and the Municipal Government of Kapalong.
Leading the MOA are Sec. Emmanuel Pinol of the Mindanao Dev’t Authority (MinDA), Sec. Isidro Lapena of the Technical Skills Devt Authority (TESDA), Sec. Allen Capuyan of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and National Task Force Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC).
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was represented by Regional Director Raquel Nunez and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sent Provincial Director Angelina Talinting to the event, that was held on October 16 at the Agriculture Production Center (APC) of the Municipality of Kapalong in Barangay Capungagan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
Among the primary local chief executive signatories were Municipal Mayor Ma. Theresa Timbol of Kapalong and Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib who was said to have hatched the idea of pooling government resources to help the Tapayanon indigenous people (IP) community
Discovered IP Community
Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr, commander of Easter Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) formed part of the panel of signatories who committed to provide the basic needs of the Tapayanon IP community.
The community was discovered in February 2019 by the 60th Infantry “Mediator” Battalion troopers while in pursuit of armed rebels who scampered towards the foot of Pantaron Range at the boundary of Bukidnon, Davao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
Mayor Timbol explained that the Adopt an IP Family Program initially centers on families of the Tapayanon IP community which the provincial government of Davao del Norte intends to move close to the newly opened road in Sitio Mondol, Barangay Gupitan in Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
Timbol estimated around 130 IP families of about 600 individuals to benefit from a consolidated package of services and assistance from MINDA, TESDA, NCIP, DSWD, and DOLE with the local governments of Davao del Norte and Municipality of Kapalong in cooperation with the Eastern Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division.
Aside from the MOA signing rites, members of the panel of MOA signatories witnessed a thanksgiving rites performed by IP leaders recognizing the pooled government assistance as “blessings brought down from heaven for their brethren”.
Agri-farming assistance
The national agency secretaries and military officials together with Governor Jubahib, Mayor Timbol , and some regional and provincial line agency heads trekked their way through rice paddy and hillsides to where a ceremonial tree planting was staged.
MINDA Secretary Pinol brought for the event some 50 seedlings of aromatic coconuts and purple yam or “ube” variety from Bukidnon province. Other planted were cacao and banana seedlings.
Timbol explained that the ceremonial planting rites at the Agricultural Production Center of Kapalong was symbolic of the agriculture support that participating agencies will be delivering to Sitio Mondol where the Tapayanon community will be transferred.
“Kung unsa ang gitanum dinhi mao sab ang didto sa Tapayanon community. (What are planted here will also be planted at the Tapayanon community.),” Timbol said.
On top of these, Provincial Governor Jubahib also intends to have more coffee seedlings planted at Sitio Mondol where the Tapayanon community will be transferred.
Ready to transfer
Given the opportunity to address the department secretaries and local chief executives, Tapayanon Tribal chieftain Datu Bansing Balanban expressed gratitude for the “focused attention” that the national and local governments have concentrated on his community.
Bansing revealed that members of his community have been freed from intense difficulty they felt when they were under the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Nasulbad na, itandi sa una pang panahon nga NPA sa amo… perteng lisura kaayo. Karon nga gobyerno na, hinay-hinay na haw-as ang among kalisod. (It has been solved, compared with the time when the NPA was with us, it was really very difficult. Now with the government, we are little by little freed from difficulty),” he said in an interview with the media.
Bansing appealed for a public school be built at their community, and that he asked the government to set up health center, install corn/rice milling facility, and construct housing units at Sitio Mondol where the Tapayanon community would be transferred.
“Andam na ang mga tawo; kung mahuman ang pabahay, mag baba na sila. (The people are ready. Once the housing is done, they would be going down),” he said referring to the readiness of his community members to get relocated from the foot of Pantaron Range .
Providing ease in delivering sustained services, the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte has opened up a road leading to Tapayanon. Community members have agreed to transfer at Sitio Mondol, near the road.
However, Bansing urged Governor Jubahib and Mayor Timbol to make ways to fast-track the road construction in about two months.
“Kabalhinon na ang katawhan sa Tapayanon; Sige nako makadungog sa ilang mulo nganong dili mahuman, kay pasalamat sila nga mabalhin sa Mondol, kay matod pa nila duol na, mahaw-as na tingali ang atong kalisod kung naa nay kalsada. (The people of Tapayanon have been wanting to be transferred. I have been hearing complaints about the road still undone. They are thankful of their relocation to Mondol. According to them, it is possible, they would be lifted from difficulty once the road is done),” he said.
Assured Assistance and Services
Aside from the road and the plantings, respective department secretaries assured Tapayanon leaders attending the rites, to deliver respective services of their agencies.
Secretary Lapena said TESDA can do training on organic farming for Tapayanon IP community. He showcased the capability of TESDA to do so as such farms have already been established in all TESDA training centers. Lapena also offered extension services of TESDA on whatever skills that the community members want to acquire.
Secretary Capuyan assured members of the Tapayanon community to locate their share of ancestral land of the more than 100,000 hectares issued with Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) covering the municipalities Kapalong, San Isidro and Talaingod.
He also pointed out their rights to be recognized among the tribal councils, as a clan within a recognized ancestral domain area. He also wanted their indigenous political structure (IPS) be organized and they be given their shares of royalty development.
Secretary Pinol extended apology to IP members of Kapalong and entire Mindanao “that for a long time you have been left out.”
“Ilalom sa panggobyerno ni President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, nisidlak na ang bag-ong adlaw sa inyong kinabuhi. (Under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the new day has shone in your lives),” he said referring to Adopt IP Family Program which he described as a “sustainable program focused on IP welfare’>
“Dili ni sama sa unang programa nga hatagan mo kwarta ug bugas; tapos kalimtan na mo; balikan mo panahon sa election. (This is not the previous program which extended you money and rice and then you’re left on your own, be looked back only during elections),” he said during the MOA signing program. (PIA XI Jeanevive Duron Abangan)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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