The Empower UNIHITRICO project is a one-year engagement with Peace and Sustainable Development Movers focussing on the empowerment of 13 Indigenous People (IP) communities in Cagayan de Oro City as advocates of environmental protection and facilitators of access to services. With the projection of moving towards a bigger influencing or advocacy initiative, this project capacitates the target groups around IP rights and IP agenda and also facilitates a sharing of indigenous knowledge systems and practices between and amongst the tribal leaders and the younger generation.

“There were times that I met our Baylan along the road going to school, I was so afraid. I avoided looking at him because he is weird. I witnessed him one time performing a ritual and mumbling words I could not understand. I understand now that he was praying to “Magbabaya” (God) to grant our wishes and for healing the sick. I realised now that Baylans have important roles in our tribe. They are the symbol of our identity and culture,” said Honeyleen Macalaguing, President of the Youth Council in barangay Taglimao.

This project entitled Empowering Tribal Leaders, IPMRs and IP Youth Sector within UNIHITRICO  Ancestral Domain for  Effective  Governance and  Sustainable Development (Empower UNIHITRICO) set out to facilitate the interaction between the elderly and young generation of the 13 Indigenous People (IP) communities in Cagayan de Oro City. From the quote above from the leader of the youth council, it was evident that PDSM was on the right track.

To achieve its set objectives, PDSM employed a number of strategies as highlighted below.

Capacity Strengthening

Coaching and Preparation of Project Briefs 

PSDM assisted the  Core Team of each barangay composed of IPMR, Tribal leaders, Women, and Youth to prioritise their projects for resource mobilisation. Out of ten targeted barangays, Tuburan and  Tumpagon declined to participate in the resource mobilisation activities because Samdhana Institute had committed to assisting them in their priority concerns.

Lessons  Learned  Workshop

To assess the lessons gained by the individual participants and the project’s contribution to the tribal communities, a  Lessons Learned Workshop was conducted on  September 9, 2018, at Philtown  Hotel,  Cagayan de Oro  City. 

Advocacy

Sharing of  Indigenous Knowledge  System and Practices (IKSP)

The sharing of indigenous knowledge system and practice(IKSPs)  to the young IPs was completed.  In the previous report,  PSDM informed  VOICE  Philippines that one(1)   barangay (Tumpagon) had refused to consent to PSDM due to conflicting project activities with  SAMDHANA Institute. Of the targetted  6 pilot barangays,  only 5  barangays could be piloted.

Resource Mobilisation

Funders  Forum

On September  10, 2018, a  Funders  Forum was held at Philtown Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City. There  were  26  prospective  partners/funders  invited  who could  potentially  respond  to the felt  needs  of the  tribal  communities

Though there have not been very visible changes in their social and economic situation, their willingness to work and continue their efforts for resource mobilisation was notable and may produce more concrete results.

The IPMRs are now more active to engage with their barangay government so that they could be an integral part of their respective barangay council. They are also asserting their rights to the benefits due to them as mandated by law. IPMRs in Taglimao and Pagalungan are now recognised by their barangay chairpersons.