DAVAO CITY, May 28 (PIA) - Sectoral representatives gathered and presented yesterday in the Regional Conference for Peace and Development (RCPD) held at the USEP Gym, Tagum City, Davao del Norte the concerns of the different sectors which they want President Rodrigo Roa-Duterte to know as he addresses the nation this July.
The RCPD is the first phase of the overall installment of the National Task Force ELCAC’s Sectoral Unification, Capacity Building, Empowerment, and Mobilization (SUCBEM) cluster as part of the SONA Campaign Plan.
At the core of the SONA Campaign Plan implementation is the formation of Regional Level multisectoral assembly with the aim to ratify and formalize the submission of a regional peace and development agenda.
The regional peace and development agenda engages representatives of various government instrumentalities in an effort to streamline and harmonize the delivery of basic social services to the people in the regional level. The regional peace and development agenda is the formalization of both territorial and sectoral agendas in a particular region.
“Unang higayun kini nga gikuha nato ang mga lehitimong isyung sectoral aron kini mabutang sa pang gobyerno ug aron makita nato unsa ang kulang. Bag-o pa man muatubang si Presidente sa atoa sa iyahang SONA, kini ipresenta sa iyaha aron kini maapil sa iyahang policy statements. (This is the first time that we gathered legitimate issues from the different sectors to be included as basis in the coming SONA of our President.),” said Department of Interior and Local Government-XI Regional Director Alex Roldan.
Sectoral groups such as Indigenous Peoples, Labor, Farmer-Fisherfolk, Peasant, Youth, Women, and Urban Poor gathered days before the RCPD for the sectoral consultations.
Issues from the IP sector
Control and management of ancestral domains by the IPs remains a concern for this sector which included the sale and illegal transactions of ancestral domain and selling of portion of the declared protected area.
The sector suggested for a further investigation to gather concrete evidences needed to file appropriate cases against those who are allegedly selling properties under the ancestral domain (AD). They have also asked for an intensive information drive on the national advisory on the prohibition of selling of lands under the AD.
The IP sector also raised that the Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC) is still not complied in some areas. They said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) neither coordinated with the NCIP nor secured the consent of the tribe in the conduct of surveys and delineation of Protected Areas within the AD. They are asking the government to compel parties to undergo FPIC processes.
Concerns from the Women Sector
There is an increasing cases of Gender-based violence in the region such as women and child trafficking, physical and sexual abuse, unreported gender-based violence cases during the quarantine period, displaced women and children due to armed conflict, and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
Aside from an intensified advocacy plan and campaign, the sector is suggesting for further enforcement of child and women protection laws at the local government unit.
The same sector also raised that loss of employment or livelihood of the single income-generating parent due to the pandemic is a rising concern. This means that the family, most especially the children are deprived from their basic needs. They are calling for the provision of livelihood or employment opportunities for solo parents.
Issues from the Farmer-Fisher folk Sector
Marginalized groups claimed that they could hardly avail government interventions such as loans for working capital and other financial support due to failure to comply with the enabling requirements.
They are asking for the government to simplify the requirements needed to avail these government projects, conduct social preparation and other capacity building activities aimed to assist small farmers in organizing themselves.
The sectoral representatives also raised that there had been a low participation of Filipino youth in farming and fishing.
It was recommended that agriculture must be added in the curriculum to help young people realize that farming and fishing is a promising career as well as provision of incentives to promote youth participation.
Issues from the Youth and Student Sector
Students complained on the difficulty on answering self-learning modules because no one could assist them on home schooling. Students also had difficulty with online instructions due to internet connectivity problems. Representatives from the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) raised concern on reduced number of enrollees since the start of the pandemic.
The student sector is asking the government for the improvement of learning modules and for the expansion of scholarships and educational assistance to deserving but financially-challenged students.
The youth and student sector also raised the growing concern on mental health amongst the youth and the students.
The HEIs also reported that there is a rampant recruitment of the leftist groups in state colleges and private schools. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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