DSWD-12 consults IP leaders on school buildings
Breaking News • 21:02 PM Wed Jun 22, 2016
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By:
Hilbert T. Estacion, regional social marketing officer, DSWD
CLASS ACT IP leaders in SOCCSKSARGEN with DSWD, NCIP, DepEd, DOH and other national government agencies officials in Koronadal City during the consultation dialogue for the construction of 135 classrooms.
KORONADAL CITY--The Department of Social Welfare and Development
has gathered leaders of Indigenous Peoples in SOCCSKSARGEN for a consultation
dialogue recently for the construction of 135 classroom project in the region.
BaiZorahayda T. Taha, DSWD 12 regional director said that the
dialogue aimed tomake sure that stakeholders, especially IP leaders, are
inclusively taking active roles in the project with their important insights
and recommendations.
Aside from its unique implementation mode, this project will not
follow the conventional type of classrooms as of non-IP areas, instead its
design and other aspects will be based on the suggestions and wisdom of IP
communities,” Taha added.
Tahasaid that the classroom project, which is part of the support to
the establishment of new public schools for the Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao,
has been allotted by the national government and World Bank with some P114.75
million for the region.
Meanwhile, Joey L. Bogay, the regional director of National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples said that the consultation with IP leaders in
the region is a gesture of respect and recognition for IP communities in order
to ensure that these projects will not compromise traditions and cultural integrity
of IP communities.
Others national government agencies including Department of
Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DOH) also presented programs and
projects for IP communities to discuss policies and recommendations for the
said project.
There are 18 areas set to benefit the project. These are Kidapawan
City, Libungan, Magpet, Makilala and Tulunan in North Cotabato General Santos,
Koronadal, Banga, Polomolok and T’boli in South Cotabato Kiamba, Maasim,Malapatan,
Malungon and Maitum in Sarangani Esperanza, Senator Ninoy Aquino and Lebak in
Sultan Kudarat.
Some 65 indigenous peoples mandated representative (IPMR) and tribal
leaders attended the dialogue.
The project will follow the community-driven development (CDD)
strategy of Kalahi-CIDSS, one of the DSWD’s flagship poverty-reduction
programs.
Under the program, local communities are empowered by giving them
opportunity to plan, design, implement projects, including control over
resources and decision-making in a participatory, transparent and with strong
sense of accountability manner.