IP SUMMIT. Members of the Indigenous Peoples from the towns of Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte, and San Fernando and Kitaotao in Bukidnon, as well as barangays Tapak and Colosas in Paquibato district in Davao City, attend a summit organized by the Army's 89th Infantry Battalion on Monday (Aug. 3, 2020). Held in Barangay New Visayas Mawab, Davao de Oro, the summit aimed to gather inputs from tribal leaders to address issues and concerns that the government needs to address. (Photo courtesy of 89IB)
DAVAO CITY – The Army's 89th Infantry Battalion (89IB) hosted the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Leaders Summit 2020 at its headquarters in Barangay New Visayas Mawab, Davao de Oro province on Monday.
In a statement on Tuesday, 89IB said the event was attended by 80 tribal leaders from the towns of Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte, and San Fernando and Kitaotao in Bukidnon, as well as barangays Tapak and Colosas in Paquibato district here.
Lt. Col. Silas Trasmontero, 89IB commander, said the summit aimed to "reorient" the tribal leaders with government programs and services, and their basic rights.
“We need to educate them and provide them with the needed assistance in whatever form so that they will not be exploited,” Trasmontero said.
He said the participants also learned about the concept of community development, entrepreneurship, peace and order, the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), the "Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) exploitation", and farming.
“Through this summit, we are actually empowering them. All this relevant information that they learned would shield them from the twisted and deceptive propaganda of the communist terrorists,” Trasmontero said.
He said the summit also served as "a sounding board" where tribal leaders can openly express issues and concerns to the military so that these can be addressed by the government.
“Holding the summit allows us to engage with them. We want to send a strong message that the government is here for them. Hearing their concerns would give us a hint as to how we can carry out projects, programs, and activities that could improve their plight,” Trasmontero said. (PNA)
