The Department of Social Welfare the Development 6 (DSWD-6) has participated in the three-day First Indigenous Peoples Visayas Cluster Convergence Summit at Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo District, Iloilo City last month as part of the department’s commitment in strengthening the delivery of basic services to the IPs.
The department has set up exhibit booth to showcase different products made by our beneficiaries under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), accomplishments of Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous Peoples (MCCT-IPs) under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and KALAHI-CIDSS. Also, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials of the different programs and services offered by the department were also provided.
Regional Director Rebecca P. Geamala, who personally inspect the booth, said this is in one way to inform and empower our IPs that DSWD has a lot of programs and services that they could avail and enjoy.
Geamala said one of the best practices of Region 6 to address concerns of the IPs is the convergence strategies where three core programs such as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, KALAHI-CIDSS and SLP contribute to poverty reduction.
“Each program responds to an aspect of poverty to ensure a comprehensive response,” she said. 4Ps beneficiary Marina Casten Janguslob, Dumarao, Capiz showcases her own native handy crafts
4Ps beneficiary Marina Casten of Brgy. Janguslob, Dumarao, Capiz showcases her own native handy crafts made from local materials such as abaca and nito. She said the three-day summit is a big help for their association to bring their products in Iloilo City for additional income as opening of classes will start next week.
On her part, Josephine Delez of Brgy. Bagong Silang, Don Salvador, Negros Occidental also said that through this summit, she is expecting that their rights as IPs will be highlighted and more programs and services will be given to them to preserve their culture and tradition.
Josephine belongs to Ata Tribe. She is also a beneficiary of 4Ps covering two of her children in elementary and high school.
Around 700 participants had attended the three-day workshop. Of the number, 500 are IPs while 200 are representatives from the national agencies and local government units.
This year’s theme dubbed “Katutubong Pilipino, Katuwang sa Pagbabago.”
The summit aims to provide appropriate responses and actions from the concerned government agencies and local government units and ensure issues confronting IPs will be properly addressed. It also intends to serve as an avenue to highlight IPs best practices in both project development and legislative presentation.
During the opening program on Monday (May 28), Atty. Leonor Quintayo, chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) said 26 government agencies committed to help them empower IPs.
“Charity begins at home. I hope that through this summit, we will be able to bridge all gaps concerning our IPs,” she said.
After the short program, participants coming from regions 6, 7 and 8 were grouped according to their cluster and tasked to list down all their issues and concerns and address to all the concerned agencies.
On the second day, different offices presented and discussed about the proposed Executive Orders for IPs, Peace Negotiations and Development Initiatives of the Government, Revised Rules on the Quasi-Judicial Functions of the NCIP, and IPMRs Best Practices and Convergence Initiatives. Also, crafting of IPs Resolution, Manifesto and Declaration in support to the EOs, Membership to RDC and RPOC, ensuring Budget Allocations for ICCs/IPs, and presentation on IPs Declaration, Resolutions and Manifesto.
In the last day of the program, all government agencies pledged their commitment to support IPs.
DSWD-6 was represented by Engr. Dan Donald Candare, Regional Community Development Specialist of KALAHI-CIDSS who pledged the department’s commitment to support IPs especially in Western Visayas.//dswd6//MGC