From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 21): Talaingod LGU pushes for welfare of IP evacuees
The Municipal Government of Talaingod this morning set a Tribal Forum at the Tribal Council in JBL, Barangay Sto. Nino to further look after the welfare of displaced Ata-Manobos.
In a letter of invitation dated April 18, Municipal Mayor Basilio A. Libayao revealed the Tribal Forum as an offshoot to the lingering concern of the LGU over the Ata-Manobos who left for Davao City from Sitio Nasilaban in early April due to military operations.
A report submitted to Davao del Norte Provincial Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario through the Provincial Social Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) dated April 2, Libayao revealed the partial number of displaced individuals running a total of 1,795 individuals.
In a continuing effort to address the outflow of Ata-Manobo to Davao City, Libayao during the press conference appealed to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to help Talaingod LGU bring back its constituents.
Libayao assured evacuees of enough relief supplies and medicine including a safe place to stay at an evacuation center in Barangay Palma Gil using the P500,000 calamity funds released by the LGU after declaring a partial State of Calamity.
Municipal Administrator Zandro Tocmo in a separate talk revealed that on April 9, the LGU brought food and medicine to the evacuees housed by a certain NGO in Davao City.
Basilio revealed the same in his letter to PIA but he said “unfortunately, our offer was rejected by the NGOs”.
During the forum this morning, Basilio identified the NGOs as the Rural Mission of the Philipines (RMP) and PASAKA (a confederation of IP organizations in Southern Mindanao) which had been keeping the Talaingod Ata-Manobos at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) inDavao City
Meanwhile, the LGU waged another relief drive on April 15 in Barangay Palma Gil. Tocmo told PIA XI that the LGU was set to deliver on that day 30 sacks of rice, 600 packs of relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI and 800 packs of the same from the provincial government of Davao del Norte to the evacuation center in Palma Gil for the evacuees who stayed in the barangay.
The relief supply delivery was also in anticipation of the return of the Ata-Manobo evacuees from Davao City, Tocmo said.
NGO Appeal
On the other hand, the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanogon- PASAKA published an Appeal for Support “Defend Talaingod, Save Pantaron Range” dated April 10, posted at bayanusa.org, saying “the Manobo People’s Exodus is part of their continuing struggle for justice and peace, to fulfil their quest for land rights and self-determination.”
It appealed for food, psycho-social services and medicine including vitamins. Aside from in-kind donations which “may brought to UCCP Haran House inFather Selga St. , Davao City
The PASAKA Appeal also called support for the “demands of the Manobo people of Talaingod led by the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon people’s organization.”
Among the demands were pull out all military troops from Talaingod; investigate and prosecute those who have perpetrated the documented war crimes; just reparations for any damaged homes, sources and means of livelihood of the people; stop the attacks on indigenous schools, students and personnel.
PDOP
Military commander Lt. Harold Cabreros of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, denied accusations on military abuse saying troops deployed at the outskirts of Talaingod were well educated on proper conduct and human rights laws.
He said they belonged to Special Forces specializing on “mass-base operation” tasked to carry out Peace and Development Program (PDOP), a major internal peace and security program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Libayao was against the idea of pulling out the military troops saying the military serves to clear the far-flung areas of Talaingod of New People’s Army (NPA)s who continue to control some sitios.
“There are still areas where even we, in the LGU cannot enter. We cannot deliver our development projects,” he said particularly referring to sitios Pongpong, Bagang, Lasaban and some other were areas at the outskirts of Talaingod.
http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1591398066758
The Municipal Government of Talaingod this morning set a Tribal Forum at the Tribal Council in JBL, Barangay Sto. Nino to further look after the welfare of displaced Ata-Manobos.
In a letter of invitation dated April 18, Municipal Mayor Basilio A. Libayao revealed the Tribal Forum as an offshoot to the lingering concern of the LGU over the Ata-Manobos who left for Davao City from Sitio Nasilaban in early April due to military operations.
“This is in relation with the Local Government Unit and its officialdom’s anxiety and apprehensions on the plight of our lumad (indigenous people) constituents who were dragged by NGOs to leave their abodes in Sitio Nasilaban on April 3, 2014 and labelled them evacuees because of supposed military operations in the area”.
A report submitted to Davao del Norte Provincial Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario through the Provincial Social Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) dated April 2, Libayao revealed the partial number of displaced individuals running a total of 1,795 individuals.
In his report to the Governor, Libayao said the affected were coming from sitio Bugni, Laslasakan, Bagang, Sitio Bayabas, Sambolongan, Nalubas-1, Nalubas-2, Pongpong, Saso, Nasilaban and Banwalay and that they were taking refuge at Sitios Nasilaban and Banlaway of Barangay Palma Gil.
However, in a press conference held at the Municipal Mayor’s Office of Talaingod on April 7, the total number of affected individuals ran up a total of 2,352 as registered by the Municipal Social Welfare Office (MSWDO)
LGU Relief Operation
In the same letter to Del Rosario, Basilio set the first round of relief operation on April 4 in Barangay Palma Gil, bringing five kilos of rice, four cans of sardines, two pouches of noodles, one pack of coffee of 25 grams, sugar and detergent soap.
However, he said some of the evacuees were “hauled” by certain NGOs at wee hours on April 3. The LGU together with contingents from the military and the police still went on to deliver the relief goods on April 4 to Brgy Palma Gil but their convoy almost got hit by a landmine.
In a continuing effort to address the outflow of Ata-Manobo to Davao City, Libayao during the press conference appealed to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to help Talaingod LGU bring back its constituents.
Libayao assured evacuees of enough relief supplies and medicine including a safe place to stay at an evacuation center in Barangay Palma Gil using the P500,000 calamity funds released by the LGU after declaring a partial State of Calamity.
Municipal Administrator Zandro Tocmo in a separate talk revealed that on April 9, the LGU brought food and medicine to the evacuees housed by a certain NGO in Davao City.
Basilio revealed the same in his letter to PIA but he said “unfortunately, our offer was rejected by the NGOs”.
During the forum this morning, Basilio identified the NGOs as the Rural Mission of the Philipines (RMP) and PASAKA (a confederation of IP organizations in Southern Mindanao) which had been keeping the Talaingod Ata-Manobos at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in
Meanwhile, the LGU waged another relief drive on April 15 in Barangay Palma Gil. Tocmo told PIA XI that the LGU was set to deliver on that day 30 sacks of rice, 600 packs of relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI and 800 packs of the same from the provincial government of Davao del Norte to the evacuation center in Palma Gil for the evacuees who stayed in the barangay.
The relief supply delivery was also in anticipation of the return of the Ata-Manobo evacuees from Davao City, Tocmo said.
NGO Appeal
On the other hand, the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanogon- PASAKA published an Appeal for Support “Defend Talaingod, Save Pantaron Range” dated April 10, posted at bayanusa.org, saying “the Manobo People’s Exodus is part of their continuing struggle for justice and peace, to fulfil their quest for land rights and self-determination.”
It appealed for food, psycho-social services and medicine including vitamins. Aside from in-kind donations which “may brought to UCCP Haran House in
The PASAKA Appeal also called support for the “demands of the Manobo people of Talaingod led by the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon people’s organization.”
Among the demands were pull out all military troops from Talaingod; investigate and prosecute those who have perpetrated the documented war crimes; just reparations for any damaged homes, sources and means of livelihood of the people; stop the attacks on indigenous schools, students and personnel.
PDOP
Military commander Lt. Harold Cabreros of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, denied accusations on military abuse saying troops deployed at the outskirts of Talaingod were well educated on proper conduct and human rights laws.
He said they belonged to Special Forces specializing on “mass-base operation” tasked to carry out Peace and Development Program (PDOP), a major internal peace and security program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Libayao was against the idea of pulling out the military troops saying the military serves to clear the far-flung areas of Talaingod of New People’s Army (NPA)s who continue to control some sitios.
“There are still areas where even we, in the LGU cannot enter. We cannot deliver our development projects,” he said particularly referring to sitios Pongpong, Bagang, Lasaban and some other were areas at the outskirts of Talaingod.
http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1591398066758