IP reps in 5-day stint on capability building

By Che Palicte
About 34 tribal leaders from different local government units (LGUs) in Region 11 underwent a five-day training stint on strengthening their capabilities as the indigenous peoples mandatory representatives (IPMRs) to local legislative bodies in the region last March 11 to 15.
Alan Cajes, managing director of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP)-Mindanao said the training aimed to strengthen the advocacy of the indigenous people in the government and train the IPMRs on skill enhancement on legislative measures.
He said the training was successfully conducted at the Mergrande Ocean resort which were participated by different tribes in Mindanao comprising of Ata, Mandaya, Mansaka, Dibabawon, Ata-Manobo, B’laan, Bagobo-Tagabawa, Manobo, Tagakaolo and Sama tribes.
Meanwhile, Regina Fernandez, DAP-Mindanao office manager said the training gave a venue for IP groups in Region 11 to be represented and participate fully in governance and decision-making processes.
An IPMR participant, Eleuterio Manaytay, from the town of Boston in Davao Oriental thanked the organizers for the conduct of the training.
“I learned not only legislation, but also to manage the entire domain together with our tribal chieftains and members,” he said, adding that the training had provided alternative tools to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the tribes in establishing a self-sustaining, economically-stable, highly-literate and culturally-vibrant community.