CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–As part of the government’s nation-building agenda, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) led a nationwide national summit – sector unification, capacity building , empowerment and mobilization, bringing together National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) from across the country.
Under the theme “Building Families, Building Communities of Ancestral Domains/Ancestral Lands and Building the Nation”, the event aimed to renew the commitment of NGAs and LGU Local Government Units in operationalizing the eleven building blocks of communities Cultures (ICCs) and IPs to make them resilient, responsive and relevant in exercising their autonomy while ensuring their security in their ancestral domains or lands.
In a bid to fully realize the said mission, the relevant stakeholders have pledged to extend assistance when and how needed.
NCIP President Allen Capuyan pointed out that the journey of indigenous Filipinos comes with many challenges, but beyond those are the abundance of opportunities available to communities.
He said it is a common journey where people will all walk together to build families, communities and a nation.
“Indigenous Filipinos are more than ready to partner with the public and private sectors. The future is definitely indigenous! said Capuyan.
Affirming the rich cultural heritage embraced by the Philippines, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. pledged to continue his partnership with NCIP to promote well-being IPs in the country alongside the identity embedded in their culture.
This, because he believed that a country without culture is like a person without a soul. “Napakaimportant to culture [The culture is so important]and what is more important are the people who represent that culture,” Abalos said.
Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan also stressed that there is no reason why IPs cannot live well off, as one of the goals of his office is to provide IPs the interventions needed to prepare them to lead independently and also be able to sustain food sufficiency. goals for the country.
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Honorary Heritage President of the United Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines, further pledged to always support in any way the contribution to peace and development of ICCs and IPs and their ancestral domains.
Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. President and CEO Ronald Mascariñas, meanwhile, pointed out that while NCIP and the government itself may not have enough funds, the private sector can always help.
He indicated that not only his company is keen to contribute to the welfare of IPs, but also other stakeholders present in society. “We hope we can inspire more companies to do the same, to try to close the gap while reducing the time,” Mascariñas said.
On the other hand, attorney Marlon Bosantog, president of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Law Center (IPRA), hopes that when people talk again about important topics such as sustainable development, policies for inclusive growth and peace and order, among others, PAs will be remembered forever.
He pointed out that this was because in the end, the value of the Philippines would always be reflected in how it treats its IPs. (CRG/PIA-10)
