1st IP convergence summit and ...

... 22nd IPRA anniversary celebration held in New Bataan town

Compostela Valley Province---The municipal government of New Bataan, Compostela Valley in partnership with the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) and the Mandaya-Mansaka Tribal Executive Council of Elders (MMTECE) celebrates the "1st IP New Bataan Convergence Summit and 22nd Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) anniversary celebration" on October 29, 2019 at the Municipal Gymnasium, New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province.

This year's celebration is anchored with the theme "Empowering Indigenous Peoples through the Whole of Nation Approach.”

A total of 83 council of elders, tribal leaders and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMR) of the different clusters attending the program led by the municipal IPMR and Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member Arnel B. Sugnoan together with the Municipal Tribal Chieftain Daniel L. Pagantupan.

During the program Provincial Director of NCIP-Comval Roger S. Lumbin shares about the 14 Thematic Issues and concerns and also explains about the Executive Order No. 70 for the whole of nation approach to the IP leaders.

Director Lumbin expressed his gratitude to the participants during the conduct of the open forum with the national government agencies and the municipal government.

“The gains and the success of our IPRA celebration as far as Comval and New Bataan in particular is considered a historic one. This is because of the influence of our chairperson and at the same time the Executive Director of ELCAC,” said Director Lumbin.

HE added that “why we are here its because we wanted to highlight the celebration of the creation of IPRA law. “Although daghan ta ug mga celebration nga nabuhat in the previous years pero for me this is something special because this is a valuable one and a historic one.”

Also gracing the occasion were New Bataan Mayor Geraldford N. Balbin together with the municipal SB members and the officials from the national government agencies namely: Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante, representatives from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through Ms. Lovella Mae C. Lagura, and from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office XI with Ms. Lourdes Melody Villanueva.

Meanwhile, the presentation of the Mandaya-Mansaka ADSDPP Annual Investment Plan was also presented by Jake Hanggam the Ancestral Domain Manager of the said town.

The ceremonial signing and pledge of commitment of support was also done with the representatives from the national government agencies and the IP leaders.

On the other hand, Mayor Balbin said that

"ang mga kaayuhan nga gihimo sa mga tribu dako ug tabang sa atua, unya magpabilin ang history sa atuang tribu sa atuang lungsod ug sa tanang mga IPs, dili mahimo ang tanan bisan pa ug unsa ang atong mga plano kung wala ang mga tabang sa national government, provincial government ug sa ubang ahensiya sa gobyerno.”

"Nagpasalamat kita nga ang atuang mga tribu ug atuang mga IPs nahatagan ug pagtagad sa mga programa sa gobyerno para sa kaayuhan sa tanan," the mayor added.

The commemoration of the 22nd Anniversary of the promulgation of Republic Act No. 8371 otherwise known as IPRA is celebrated in the IP Month of October 1-31, 2019. #YEStoDavaoDeOro (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)