DAVAO DEL NORTE, 19 Oct (PIA) - The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) dialogue this afternoon with Talaingod Ata-Manobo tribal leaders clinched a reconciliation ritual, leading participants to leave misunderstanding behind.
The simple ritual marked with drips of blood from white free-range chicken brought together leaders of Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) of Talaingod to commit to peace and forgiveness of whatever misgivings they have had with each other.
“Karon nag ritwal si Datu, buot ini ang mga tsismis dili na ninyo ipadayon kay makabungkag na ug isa ka lungsod. Kay ingon ana ang sinugdan bata pa, hangtod paingon sa ginikanan, paingon sa katiguwangan, mahimong away; sunod niana, lungsod na. (Now that Datu has made this ritual, this means what we have to stop spreading gossips because that can break a town. Starting with our young, then to parents, towards the elder; the town would then be the next.),” Talaingod Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) leader, Bae Pilar Libayao said.
“Mao na ang dili nako gusto. (That is what I don’t like to happen),” she said while expressing thanks to Mindanao Tribal Council of Leaders and Elders president, Datu Joel Unad for facilitating the ritual.
Ritual Leading to Peace
Datu Unad pushed the ritual before Talaingod tribal leaders would part ways after the NCIP dialogue presided by NCIP Allen Capuyan, executive director of the National task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC).
Unad pointed out the possibility of “faction” among Ata Manobo tribal communities to still persist once they got home to Talaingod without having gone through the ritual after the dialogue.
“Mao na nga adunay recommendation nga kinahanglang himoon ang initial nga ritual for reconciliation ug ako nagpasalamat sa ilaha nga miuyon sila; gani ang term nga ‘uya’ nagpasabot nagkasinabot sila nga kinahanglan nga magapsig-uli na sila sa maaayong kabubuton. (There is a recommendation to conduct the initial ritual for reconciliation, and I am grateful for them that they have agreed. In fact the term ‘uya” means that they have understood the need to patch up differences.), he said.
Another ritual is expected to happen right at the Ata Manobo community in Talaingod to be witnessed by various sectors especially the youth and the women, to make it known, far and wide, that the Ata Manobo clans have reconciled, Unad said.
With the ritual having done and with the message of Bae Pilar Libayao, Unad assured that the dialogue would lead to peace among Ata Manobos in Talaingod “because this dialogue primarily involved the tribal leaders who value their ‘word of honor’ and who acknowledge the sanctity of their pact”.
The ritual wrapped up the dialogue that formed part of the NCIP “Strategic Direction Workshop” conducted in Tagum City today, bannering the theme, “Deliberate, Methodical, Purposive and Laser-focus Understanding”.
Burning issues & concerns
Before he tackled issues of specific concern for Ata Manobos, Capuyan made it known that he had been spending sortie of visits to clusters IP communities nationwide to listen to them.
“We have to address these burning issues. We owe it to the next generation,” he said.
Having known the current issues besetting IP communities in Talaingod, Capuyan directed NCIP Davao del Norte Provincial Head Roger Lumbin and Regional Director Geroncio Aguio to “operationalize the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Land Allocation (CADLA) and the Certificate of Ancestral Land Occupation of Migrants (CALOM).”
His directive was intended to address land occupancy of settlers in some ancestral domain areas, and land ownership by some IP individuals who have purchased parcels of lands within ancestral domains.
NCIP has made it clear that ancestral domains are not owned by any single individual but by the tribe to which the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) are being issued.
Capuyan also instructed NCIP field personnel to hoist in conspicuous places that sell and purchase of ancestral lands is a violation to the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of the Philippines (IPRA).
Meanwhile, Capuyan pointed out the need to strengthen the Ata Manobo Indigenous Political Structure (IPS), and he directed those manning the Municipal Tribal Office to extend due courtesy of informing the IPS leadership, regarding all the goings-on concerning the Ata Manobo tribe.
“Dili pwede nga dili mahibalo ang IPS sa mga Kalihukan sa Tribo,” Capuyan made it clear during the dialogue. He made everyone understand the importance of IPS as the pillar of tribal self-governance.
The dialogue also generated discussion on the need to establish tribal barangays because the Municipality of Talaingod only has three barangays: Sto Nino, Dagohoy and Palma Gil covering 134 sitios located in rolling hills and mountainous areas.
It was noted as timely to create tribal barangays for government to be felt and services be delivered to Talaingod populace which have grown in number.
NCIP Regional Director Aguio said that setting up of tribal barangays are allowed based on IPRA but the internal rules and regulation (IRR) is yet to be issued.
Present during the dialogue, Talaingod Mayor Jonnie Libayao said that the local government has already considered elevating certain sitios or villages into tribal barangays. Among which are sitios Natulinan, Nasilaban, Lumabag in Brgy Palma; sitios Mesolong, Cabidiangan and Tibi-tibi in Brgy Sto Nino; and Tibucag in Brgy Dagohoy.
Other concerns that Capuyan tackled were on organizing of IP youths, on scholarship grants to IP students, and on enlisting of IPs as members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Eco-Tourism site
Capuyan shared his belief that the Philippines would become much progressive if development would serve the needs of IP communities. He also believed that ending local communist armed conflict to succeed if IP communities would “become resilient”.
On the other hand, Capuyan allowed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial office of Davao del Norte to explain the necessary requirement of putting up ecotourism sites.
Forester Victor Bilones revealed the need for clearances emanating from geological hazard assessment of an area targeted for eco-tourism development, and that such area should be identified in a “zoning code” of a local government unit.
“DENR is in support for any development projects to become risk-free,” he said.
Present during the dialogue, Talaingod Mayor Jonnie Libayao revealed he had halted any tourism projects pending zoning, and in the absence of necessary clearances from DENR. (PIA XI/Jeanevive Magan-Duron Abangan)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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