CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga, Nov. 8(PIA) - - Unified action is being sought to better serve the indigenous peoples .
Noel Felongco, Secretary and Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission , in his message during the celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month, said that indigenous communities play a vital role as custodians of our planet. “They (IPs) possess vital knowledge that will support global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)”, he said adding however that despite progress to protect their rights, many of the world’s indigenous peoples face discrimination and threats to their livelihoods and ancestral lands.
“Sa kasalukuyan, isa sa mga pinakamatinding hamon na ating kinakaharap ay ang kahirapan. Kung kaya’t aking hinihikayat ang bawat isa na mas paigtingin pa ang ating mga programa at proyekto kontra kahirapan upang matulungang iangat and buhay ng mga sector sa bansa lalong-lao na ng mga katutubo”(At present, one of the most difficult challenges we are facing is poverty. I urge everyone to pursue anti-poverty programs and projects in order to help uplift sectoral lives especially that of the IPs),he said.
“Naniniwala ako na ang ating pagkakaisa ay mahalaga upang mapaglingkuran ang ating mga kapatid na katutubo sa kanilang mga karapatan at indibidwal na pangangailangan. Makakaasa po kayo na ang National Anti-Poverty Commission ay patuloy na gagawa ng mga inisyatibo upang makatulong sa pagpapaangat ng buhay ng ating mga katutubo sa bansa. Kasama po ninyo kami sa laban na ito,(I believe that our unified action can serve better our IP brothers on their rights and individual needs. I assure you that the National Anti-Poverty Commission will continue to come oup with initiatives to better the lives of IPs. We are together in this fight), ” said Felongco, an IP from Mindanao.
On the other hand, Kalinga Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang who chairs the House Committee on Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Cultural Communitiesin, in his message delivered in the Banao language, said in his sorties around the country to know the situation of that different IPs, there is great change on the lives of IPs as a result of government interventions through development programs and projects.
The House of Representative is also pushing for some legislative measures to further strengthen the rights and opportunities of the IPs.
“Awad ji kingwan ji govilno un Philippine Development Plan un para si pumiyaan tako un gimpong. Jogan ji plano si mankokwa Kongresso si nasawalan ya pito un lintog un para amin si vumaluwan ammin un gimpong si Pilipinas kama ji House Bill 1886 or the IP Health Workers Bill, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Areas or ICCA Bill, the Free and Culture-Sensitive IP Civil Registration System Bill, or the Equal Employment Opportunities Bill among others. (Specific agenda for IPs in the Philippine Development Plan are being supported by 7 legislative measures filed in Congress. Among these are House Bill 1886 or the IP Health Care Workers Bill, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Areas or ICCA Bill, the Free and Culture-Sensitive IP Civil Registration System Bill, and the Equal Employment Opportunities Bill.)
He appeals to the public to support these government programs which are for the benefit of all.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan spearheaded the performance of the ritual on “Atyag” or Chong-as” or “Bagibag” or “Patatag” during the IP Month celebration at the Kalinga Sports Center. This is a practice of making noise to drive away bad spirits believed causing epidemics like the COVID-19 pandemic. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments