DavNor gov says Lumads need livelihood, basic services
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TAGUM, Davao del Norte – “More on livelihood, health care and basic services – water supply, better road access, and education.”
These are the needs of indigenous people (Lumad) in his province, according to Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario when Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc. (MISFI) – a Davao City based non-governmental organization (NGO) – made a courtesy visit in his office last September 14, 2007.
MISFI is currently visiting local government units (LGUs) as part of its “Rebuilding Pathways towards Integral Peace and Development of the Uprooted People in Mindanao” also dubbed as “ACTION REPAIR Project” in key areas of Mindanao.
The “Action Repair” Project has targeted at least 39 communities in remote areas (mostly inhabited by Lumads) where basic social services from government are limited, if not, totally absent.
“MISFI is the first NGO that visited me and will be going to upland areas of the province since I sat down here as governor last July 1 and I appreciate it,” Governor del Rosario revealed.
“You (MISFI) can help in trying to provide the needs of our Lumad and help them understand in protecting their resources up in the mountains,” the governor added referring to the reported rampant illegal logging in some remote villages of the province. He said the provincial government is also continuously educating the Lumads on how to protect the province’s remaining forest.
The governor also urged MISFI to help the Lumads in livelihood projects that are self-sustaining even as the provincial government is also doing the same in some areas of the province.
“We are teaching them how to protect their natural resources and at the same time, how they can survive in those areas by providing them some livelihood projects,” the governor said.
MISFI also conducted courtesy visits in the LGUs of Davao City, New Corella and Kapalong municipalities of Davao del Norte and in New Bataan of Compostela Valley province.
The ACTION REPAIR Project, which is assisted by the European Union (EU) through its Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, is being implemented in 39 communities covering five regions of Mindanao seven (7) provinces, one city, 14 municipalities and 26 barangays with approximately 28,392 individuals belonging to Indigenous, Moro and Christian families.
Davao del Norte is one of the seven provinces. Other provinces included are Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, North Cotabato and Maguindanao.
The Project hopes to accomplish end-results such as sustainable agriculture and livelihood, agro-forestry, housing, water system development, disaster mitigation and preparedness, health and nutrition, stress and tension reduction therapies, literarcy and numeracy, peace building and capacity building.
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