Friday, May 03, 2024

Tag: IP

Heirs of Datus Mampaalong, Mansikiabo hold annual Sakub ritual

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.Net/20 January 2024) The heirs of Datu Mampaalong and Datu Mansikiabo ancestors of the Bukidnon Tribe held a ritual on January 20, 2024, in Sakub, a riverine sacred historical site

Datu Maayun-ayun Arthur “Tiboy” Melendez led the annual ritual also known as Panungdan Panalawaig Pamuhat ta Sakub Salubseb, which pays respect to the spirits that guard the river and the water that flows through it.

Malaybalay City Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran led dignitaries who attended the ritual. Also present were City Council Chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Councilor Allan Ryann Legaspi and City SK Federation President Christopher Lambert Tortola, Brgy 7 Punong Barangay Digs Ramos, Barangay 2 Punong Barangay Vinci Melendez, Brgy 7 Kagawad Emilio Cahilig, Brgy. 4 Kagawad Jet Tulang, and media personality Eric Cacay, based on reports by Erlow D. Talatala.

Datu Maayun-ayun Arthur O. Melendez, the tribal leader, told BukidnonNews.Net in 2020 the ritual should be held every year at the strike of new moon. He added that it is important for the tribe as well as the rest of the city to hold the annual ritual as it promotes mutual respect, understanding, and unity.

The datu cited free and prior informed consent and mutual sharing of information as among the principles promoted in the ritual. In the past, visitors to the town used to pay courtesy to the site as a sign of respect for the story of the town and its people.

Back in 2020, he added that the heirs do the ritual to mark a cultural reawakening in the city. They plan to hold cultural reorientation and education.

The ritual is usually attended by tribal elders and leaders from other parts of Bukidnon and other members of the community.

For him, Panalawaig is important for the city as water is important to life. In Binukid, water is “wahig”. He said they can trace the importance of paying respect to creations in the foundations of the city, even before the Spaniards declared it as a pueblo or town.

Datu Maayun-ayun relates to BukidnonNews.Net the story of ancestor Amay Manlanot, who came even before Datu Mampaalong and Datu Mansikiabo. The tribal leader came to the spring site one day. Somehow, he dropped his sakub (scabbard or sheath of a blade weapon) on one part of the river, and swam for it but never resurfaced.

Since then, the tribe has called the place Sakub, which is near the San Isidro Bridge in Impalambong, along the Sawaga River. It is close to the original market site of Malaybalay, along Bahada, in the boundary of Brgy 4 and Brgy. 7.

In September 2019, the City Government of Malaybalay passed an ordinance declaring Sakub a talengdanen (sacred site) and Salubseb spring as an anthropological and historical site of the indigenous peoples.

The ordinance, authored by City Councilor Louel M. Tortola and then Vice Mayor Jay Warren Pabillaran was sponsored by then City IP Mandatory Representative Bede Blaise Omao Maghilom. It recognized that the city government is duty-bound to maintain unity, peace, and understanding by promoting mutual respect among the city’s inhabitants.

Datu Maayon-ayon said in 2020 that the ordinance is important in the tribe’s efforts for cultural reawakening and the genuine development of the city.

Datu Mampaalong of the Melendez clan and Datu Mansikiabo, his counterpart in the Moreno clan are recognized forefathers of the Bukidnon tribe in Malaybalay City. (BukidnonNews.Net)

Datu Maayon-ayon Arthur “Tiboy” Melendez speaks during a portion of the ritual. (Erlow D. Talatala)


Tourists flocked to Don Carlos, Bukidnon on January 20 to 21, 2024 to join parishioners as they celebrate the town fiesta in honor of the Sto Nino (child Jesus). The local version of the Sinulog Festival was marked with religious, entertainment, and public showcases. Photos courtesy of Sinulog sa Don Carlos 2024 FB Page/LGU Don Carlos/BukidnonNews.Net

Bukidnon Bansalumad Congress held

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (Dec. 27, 2023) – Leaders of Bukidnon’s seven tribes gathered alongside Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) for the Bansalumad Congress, which was held in the Hall of Peace in Tulugan, Brgy. Songco, Lantapan on the 22nd and 23rd of December 2023

They primarily discussed the proposed Indigenous Peoples (IP) Code.

Atty. Arbie “Bagani” Saway Llesis, Bukidnon provincial IPMR, presented and discussed the significance of his largely prepared proposed ordinance with the participants.

He proposes the Bukidnon Bansalumad Code of 2024, also known as the Ordinance Adopting the Comprehensive Bansalumad Indigenous Peoples Welfare and Development Code in the Province of Bukidnon.

Llesis explained that “the IP Code isn’t just any law. That represents our unity. Now we will sew our effort, bind our effort to become stronger, to be heard more, and to be more believable that we can implement our rights here in our territory”.

Generally, the purpose of the code is to provide the basis for conscious and planned development for the IPs in the province and provide them substantial opportunities for access to governmental resources for the same.

One of its goals and objectives is to recognize the IPs’ right to decide on their development priorities as these affect their lives, beliefs, institutions, and spiritual well-being, as well as the lands they occupy or use, and to exercise control over their own economic, social, and cultural development to the greatest extent possible.

The proposed ordinance calls for the construction of a Provincial Indigenous Peoples Complex on a three-hectare property.

The Provincial IP Complex will act as the focal point for centralized and coordinated support, response, livelihood, and development involving Bukidnon’s IP.

The participants unanimously agreed on the IP Code’s desired approval during the two-day session.

Apart from explaining the IP Code, the Bansalumad Congress also discussed other resolutions to be signed by the elders and leaders of the seven tribes, such as the resolution to request funding for the IP Complex from the provincial government, as well as the request to congressmen for more funds for the construction of other IP structures, crafting an ordinance that will lead to the formation of the League of IPMRs, and resolutions opposing the national plan to zero budget the NCIP and House Bill No. 9608 which is the transfer of the ancestral domain office of NCIP to DENR. (melbmadera)

DA-PRDP, World Bank, EU visit IREAP enterprise in Damulog for 16th ISM

Posted on by cmn

DAMULOG, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project, together with the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) visited the Crumb Rubber Processing and Marketing Enterprise subproject of the Migcawayan Tribal Agricultural Cooperative (MTAC) on November 16, 2023, as part of the 16th Implementation Support Mission (ISM)

Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil Roque welcomed the WB and the EU team to the province of Bukidnon and thanked them for their assistance to MTAC and to the province.

Mio Takada, WB Task Team Leader to PRDP said that the main objective of the mission is to hear from the proponent group on their preparation for the implementation of the given subproject, which includes addressing their apprehensions and constraints and providing direction to the group.

Further, the apprehensive about constraints that they are facing so they can address and provide direction for them.

Meanwhile, Mojca Krisper-Figueroa, EU Programme Manager, is glad that the EU was able to join the ISM for the first time and visit the subproject site.

“It’s great that the existing facilities are running, and there is enhanced workforce labor and enhanced price increase in the production, which is actually good. We are happy to be here, learn from you and exchange ideas with you, and of course, if there is something that we can do for the cooperative, we are happy to assist,” Figueroa added.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and DA-PRDP Deputy Project Director (DPD) Carlota S. Madriaga affirmed the department’s commitment after noticing the perseverance, dedication, and drive of MTAC towards the success of the subproject.

Funded under DA-PRDP’s second additional financing (AF2) and European Union Co-Financing Grant, the medium enterprise proposed by MTAC has a subproject cost of Php 80,971,551.00 and will benefit greatly from the cooperative members, including a huge number of women, indigenous people, and rubber farmers in the barangay and nearby areas as it provides livelihood for them once the operation starts.

Gracing the activity are the WB team composed of Ning Bondoc, Shubham Singh, Mario Orilla, Cora Dankers, Tomas Sta. Maria, Gomer Tumbali, and Maya Villaluz, with representatives from the PRDP National Project Coordinating Office.

Also present in the activity are the Project Support Office Mindanao team led by DPD Noel Provido, the LGU of Damulog headed by Mayor Melino Buro, the Regional Project Coordinating Office 10 team, Migcawayan barangay officials, and MTAC members. (pr)

Gov’t expands cash, rice aid to Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

The government has expanded its cash and rice aid program to cover Bukidnon province following its successful implementation in Metro Manila and Laguna last week

Speaker Martin Romualdez said the activity coincided with the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair being held in Bukidnon.

The Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) program was rolled out in response to a call by President Marcos for the government to create a system meant to give the “poor and vulnerable” families opportunities to enjoy a better quality of life through the legislative districts.

Romualdez, the chief proponent of the CARD program, said some 3,000 beneficiaries were given aid in Bukidnon, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Speaker was assisted for the Bukidnon leg of the CARD program by congressional Reps. Jonathan Keith Flores and Laarni Lavin Roque, Gov. Neil Roque, and Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora.

The CARD Program was earlier launched in Metro Manila, covering all of its 33 legislative districts, with each having 10,000 beneficiaries for a total of 330,000 residents.

At least 5,000 residents in Biñan City and Sta. Rosa in Laguna were likewise assisted by the CARD program.

The beneficiaries, notably senior citizens, persons with disability, solo parents, and indigenous people, received at least P2,000 worth of cash and rice assistance, consisting of a 25-kilo sack of rice and P1,000 cash to buy other food essentials.

Romualdez said the CARD program would cover the whole country to serve constituents of the 250 congressional districts, reaching out to at least 10,000 beneficiaries per district.

This would translate to 2.5 million indigent and vulnerable Filipinos benefitting from the CARD program. (Manila Standard)

Pagpreserbar sa kultura makab-ot pinaagi sa panaghiusa – Mayor Abucayan

Posted on by cmn

Pagpreserbar sa kultura ang punto nga gipadangat ni Kitaotao Municipal Mayor Edwin Abucayan, pinaagi sa panaghiusa sa katawhan, atol sa 2023 Indigenous Peoples Month Celebration and 26th IPRA Commemoration niadtong Oktubre 31, 2023 sa Covered Court sa Barangay Sinuda, Kitaotao, Bukidnon

Sumala ni Mayor Abucayan nga ang kultura sa tribu angayang ikinabuhi ug ipreserbar gumikan kay pinaagi niini, dali ang pagsulbad sa mga problema nga moabot, ngalan nga kini ang kalag, prinsipyo ug baruganan sa katawhan sa lungsod, pinaagi sa panaghiusa.

Bisita sa kasaulogan sa tribu si Chairperson Jennifer Pia ‘Limpayen’ Sibug-Las sa National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), diin gipahinumduman niini ang 4 bundles of rights diha sa IPRA Law ug 11 building blocks sa ICCs/IPs. Sa iyang pakigpolong, gipalawman niini ang kabahin sa customary law, nga angayang respituhon ug pakisayran sa lumadnong katawhan ang balaod sa tribu. Nga ang komunidad kinahanglang magkahiusa diha sa pagrespito sa katigulangan.

Sa report ni Datu Cosme Lambayon, municipal IPMR gisiguro niini nga sa mga planong kalambuan sulod sa ancestral domain, moagi gayud sa Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Gipasabot usab niini nga ang ancestral domain – pribado apan gipanag-iyahan sa komunidad nga iya sa Federation of Matigsalug Manobo Tribal Council Inc., buot ipasabot iya sa tanang henerasyon, busa dili mamahimong mabaligya.

Anaa usab sa maong kalihukan sa tribu sila Atty. Pinky Grace Pareja, NCIP Commissioner from Northern and Western Ethnographic Region for Mindanao, ug ang mga kadagkoan gikan sa regional and provincial offices sa maong ahensya, kauban ang mga opisyales sa lungsod sa Kitaotao, Bukidnon. (LGU Bukidnon)

San Fernando town in Bukidnon to receive FMR

Posted on by cmn

The Concreting of Mahayag, Namnam – Iglugsad – Kibongkog Farm-to-Market Road in San Fernando, Bukidnon, was officially launched as part of the 20 pioneer subprojects under the PRDP Scale-Up on November 6, 2023, in Cubao, Quezon City

Being the first approved PRDP Scale-Up subproject in Northern Mindanao, the said FMR is 8.56 kilometers in length, with an estimated project cost of Php 260,000,000.00.

The FMR covers 2,185 hectares of influence area, which will be enjoyed by 1,503 farming households, especially abaca farmers and thousands of indigenous people.

Newly appointed DA Secretary Francisco T. Laurel, Jr. leads the awarding of the certificate with the World Bank Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, Dr. Ndiamé Diop, together with DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban, DA Assistant Secretary for Operations and DA-PRDP National Project Director Arnel V. De Mesa and DA-PRDP National Deputy Project Director Shandy M. Hubilla.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado received the certificate of award with Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque, San Fernando Mayor Rogelio C. Yeke, San Fernando Association of Barangay Captains President Flordeliza M. Yeke and San Fernando Municipal Agriculturist Coleen Alva C. Ambos.

The PRDP Scale-Up is a flagship program of the DA designed to address the gaps in the commodity value chains by improving the efficiency of the food supply chain towards greater connectivity, mobility, accessibility, availability, and affordability of food in the market through the scientific-based implementation of infrastructure and enterprise subprojects. (DA RFO-10)

4 Mindanao bishops to Marcos Jr.: void FTAA of Tampakan project

Posted on by cmn

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Four Catholic bishops in Mindanao have asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to void the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) granted to Sagittarius Mines, Inc., developer of the controversial Tampakan project, the largest untapped copper-gold minefield in Southeast Asia

Set to expire on March 21, 2020, the 25-year FTAA awarded to the Tampakan project had been extended for 12 years—or until March 21, 2032—in an order issued June 8, 2016.

MindaNews reported about this development in January 2020.

FTAA No. 002-95-XI was originally granted to Australian Firm Western Mining Corp. (WMC) on March 22, 1995. SMI acquired the FTAA from WMC in 2001 with the approval of Environment Secretary Heherson Alvarez.

The FTAA is subject to renewal for another 25 years, but long before its expiry, SMI sought and was granted a 12-year extension of the original FTAA, citing “force majeure,” a copy of the order obtained by MindaNews then showed.

Leo Jasareno, then national director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), an agency under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), approved the extension on June 8, 2016, “by authority of the secretary.” The environment secretary at the time was Ramon Paje.

A copy of the bishops’ petition to declare illegal SMI’s FTAA extension was filed with Malacañang on Wednesday. It was signed by Bishop Cerilo Casicas, Diocese of Marbel; Archbishop Angelito Lampon, Archdiocese of Cotabato; Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Diocese of Kidapawan; and Bishop Guillermo Afable, Diocese of Digos.

The prelates represent the communities that will be affected by the Tampakan project, which the company earlier estimated to cost an investment of at least $5.9 billion.

Their petition was subsequently submitted to the DENR, headed by Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

Together with their legal counsels from the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC), the church leaders argued that the extension of the FTAA by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in 2020 was unconstitutional.

“We respectfully reiterate our demand to cancel the illegal extension of FTAA – 002 in favor of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. We respectfully believe that the extension of the FTAA (is) beyond the powers of the MGB, and the same must be declared void, especially as the mining operations will impact critical environmental areas,” Casicas said in a statement.

Atty. Rolly Peoro, Direct Legal Services Coordinator of LRC, said the Tampakan FTAA “has definitively lapsed, and SMI should have thus undergone consultations, environmental impact assessment, and other regulatory compliances for renewal.”

 

“These safeguards are there to ensure that the utilization of our natural resources is held accountable to the highest office and therefore highest regulatory scrutiny,” Peoro said.

The petitioners elaborated that SMI’s claim of force majeure as the basis for requiring extension was unfounded.

The acts cited as constituting force majeure, such as legal and tenurial conflicts, the open pit mine ban, and civil disturbances, among others, are all forms of assertions of rights that can be duly exercised vis-a-vis the course of the project, the petition said.

Addressing Marcos, Casicas said, “This constitutional power was exclusively lodged to your office, as the President, being the father of the nation, is entrusted to represent the best interests of the Filipino people. May your guidance and leadership of our country be blessed upon by our shared faith to protect the environment.”

MindaNews sought an SMI official for comments but have yet to respond as of posting.

On its website, SMI reposted a BusinessWorld report that it targets to go full-swing operations in 2026. Several other national media outlets came out with a similar report.

In an SMI study, the mining company noted that the most viable method to extract the shallow mineral deposits is through open-pit mining, which has been banned by the South Cotabato provincial government since 2010.

SMI revealed that the Tampakan project has the potential to yield an average of 375,000 metric tons of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold per annum in the expected 17-year life of the mine.

Once developed, it has the potential to be a key driver of national and regional growth as well as socio-economic development for its host communities, the firm said on its website.

In a mining forum at the Notre Dame of Marbel University in Koronadal City in September 2019, Casicas urged the national government to refrain from renewing the FTAA of SMI for another 25 years.

In that forum, Casicas pledged to sustain the opposition spearheaded by his predecessor, the late Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, against SMI.

Casicas deplored the Tampakan project, a venture which, according to him, “even God will not approve,” considering its impact on the environment, Indigenous Peoples, and other residents who will be affected.

Vowing to sustain the local Catholic church’s resistance against open-pit mining, Casicas stressed: “God created humans to protect the environment.” (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)

Ritwal sa pangampo sa IPMR, gipahigayon

Posted on by Diego M. Hidalgo

Gipahigayon ang isa ka ritwal sa pangampo alang sa bag-ong napili nga Provincial Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) niadtong Agosto 30, 2023

Base sa pahibalo sa Provincial Government of Bukidnon, ang ritwal gipahigayon sa opisina sa IPMR sa National ug Provincial Government Offices Building ning dakbayan.

Ang maong ritwal gipahigayon pinaagi ni Atty. Arbie “Bagani” Saway Llesis.

Gipanalangin ang maayong pagdumala sa bag-ong IPMR nga dili mapasagdan ang iyang katungdanan sa kinatibok-ang IP sa lalawigan, ug ilikay ang tibook probinsya sa Bukidnon sa gyera ug sa tanang katalagman.

Ang ritwal sa pangampo gipangunahan ni Bae Adelina “Inatlawan” Tarino sa tribung Bukidnon, uban sa mga City/Municipal IPMRs ning probinsya ug mga personahe sa PGO-Indigenous Affairs Division. (Diego M. Hidalgo)

PYAP Malaybalay Chapter conducts outreach program for IP Children

Posted on by cmn

In celebration of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) 49th Regional Founding Anniversary and 35th of PYAP Malaybalay Chapter, an outreach program was successfully conducted by PYAP Malaybalay Chapter Federation in Sitio Canada at Barangay Bangcud last July 21, 2023

A Fun Run – Fundraising took place last July 1, 2023, where the proceeds was used for the outreach program and benefited Seventy (70) Indigenous Peoples (IP) children.

School supplies, health kits, and slippers were given which they could use in the coming school days.

PYAP Malaybalay Chapter Federation was grateful to all the individuals who joined and helped during the fundraising activity and is also thankful to the City Government of Malaybalay, the City Social Welfare and Development Office, and all the PYAP local chapters and sponsors for all the support extended.

The outreach program is part of the 3-year plan project of PYAP Malaybalay for 2022-2024 which is now moving forward towards a more sustainable outreach activity.

Proyekto sa PMNP gidawat sa Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

Gidawat sa Probinsya sa Bukidnon, pinaagi ni Provincial Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque, ang Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) gikan sa national agencies, diin upat ka lungsod sa probinsya ang nahimong grantees, sama sa: Cabanglasan, San Fernando, Talakag ug Kalilangan gikan nila Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama Jr. Undersecretary of Health, Field Implementation and Coordination Team-Mindanao (FICT), ug DILG-10 Dir. Wilhelm M. Suyko kauban ang uban pang sector sa gobyerno, niadtong Hulyo 21, 2023, Loizas Pavilion, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

Ang maong proyekto muhatag sa teknikal nga suporta nga gipangunahan sa Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) ug National Nutrition Council (NNC), sa pakigtimbayayong Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Commission on Muslim Filipinos ug Provincial Government of Bukidnon, alang sa multisectoral nutrition approach aron sa paghatud sa usa ka coordinated package sa nutrition-specific ug nutrition-sensitive nga mga interbensyon sa nagkalain-laing plataporma sa LGU uban sa usa ka harmonized social behavior change ug communication strategy.

Kini nga proyekto naglangkob sa tulo ka major component nga mao ang musunod: una nagtutok sa pagpalig-on sa paghatod sa mga interbensyon nga direktang motubag sa importanteng mga problema sa nutrisyon sa mga bata nga direktang apektado sa stunting ug livelihood interventions para sa ilang mga pamilya; ikaduha sa pagsuporta sa mga LGU ug komunidad sa pag-andam sa mga plano sa aksyon sa lokal nga nutrisyon ug pag-institutionalize sa mga kabalaka sa nutrisyon sa proseso ug pagplano sa lokal nga kalamboan ug pagpahigayon og mga kalihokan sa Social Behavior and Change Communications; ug ang ikatulo mao ang paghatag sa suporta sa mga kawani aron masiguro ang paghatud sa mga target ug kalihokan sa proyekto lakip ang pagmonitor ug pag-evaluate. (LGU Bukidnon)