The Formulation of the Talaandig tribes Indigenous Peoples Plan in the Palaopao and Upper Mangima Tribal Communities project implements Chapter IV (Right to Self-Governance and Empowerment) of R.A. 8371 (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act). It aims to assist the Talaandig-Higaonon tribe in the municipalities of Manolo Fortich and Sumilao, Bukidnon to formulate an Indigenous Peoples Plan to be lobbied and incorporated to the respective barangay development plans and most importantly, to the Municipal Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP) of the Municipal LGUs. Once already in place, it will be an instrument to correct and mitigate the historic injustice that demands restitutive and restorative measures for the injuries and damages suffered and sustained by the Talaandig peoples.

The route to an Indigenous Peoples Plan 

Given the reality that the majority of members from indigenous cultural communities are assimilated with foreign influences and ideologies, the right to self-determination, as the foundation of ancestral domain governance remains a challenge. 

The indigenous Talaandig, Higaonon and Bukidnon communities of Bukidnon, Philippines are not exempt from this trend. During the previous decades, even with the adoption of R.A. No. 8371 otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act 1997, it is noted that decision-making and consensus-building processes within the community and the ancestral domain, in general, is already going far beyond customary regulations, traditions and tribal practices as defined under the principles of the “agpangan”, “gantangan” and “timbangan”. This called for a need to provide better and clearer guidance to community leaders, particularly with the indigenous political structure (IPS) as the governing body of the ancestral domain 

To achieve its objective, the project facilitated sixteen barangay (town) officials to sign a commitment to support the formulation of the Indigenous Peoples Plan (IP Plan) to be incorporated in their respective Barangay Development Plans. The officials comprised of chief executives and town councilors from ten barangay Local Government Units (LGUs) namely, Dalirig, Maluko, Tikala, Kalugmanan of the Municipality of Manolo Fortich and Vista Villa, San Roque, Kulasi, Puntian, Occasion and Licoan of the Municipality of Sumialo. This was followed by seven Council of Elders (CoE) meetings for the Mt. Palaopao Upper Mangima Tribal Communities (MPUMATRIC), whose policy and governing body was tasked to develop and promulgate policies relative to the IP’s rights to the ancestral domain, culture, environment, self-determination and empowerment. This was supported by trainings to the stakeholders as well as dialogues with the stakeholders like the National Commission on Indigenous People and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices. All these were very participatory and inclusive processes as shared by one of the members; 

“As the VOICE’s slogan avers – “include, innovate, influence”, truly we learned from these approaches. The lesson not to always be legally right and frequently antagonistic against those in power and authority, or else we may just end up losers. Correspondingly, we need to also acknowledge and promote our accountabilities. As established under the customary “ininay/inamay” parental leadership principles handed by our ancestors, we must be inclusive – involve everybody as part of the family, innovative but ensures that no one is being sacrificed, and influence but critically consider the perfect timing to introduce your views and ideas.” 

As there were still some pending issues to fully complete the IP Plan manuscript, the TWG met in September 2019 to iron out these issues leading to the formal endorsement of the finalized copy of the IP Plan and transmittal signed in November 2019. The TWG ensured the planning framework was according to indigenous belief, knowledge systems, customary law, traditional governance, traditional sustainable livelihood, health systems, security, peace and order of the tribal community. This was followed by the publication of the MPUMATRIC blueprint of the dreams and aspirations, making it the first ever well documented development and protection tools in managing the Talaandig-Higaonon-Bukidnon Kin- tribes ancestral domain in the Mount Palaopao, Upper Mangima and Upper Kulaman areas. The publication is titled, “Customary Consensus and Decision-Making Processes Concerning Activities, Plans, Programs and Projects within the Mount Palaopao,Upper Mangima and Upper Kulaman Ancestral Domain”. As a result, the financial policies and internal control systems are now in place and adopted by the MPUMATRIC CoE. The publication provides a formal reference material not only for the tribe but to all stakeholders who intend to introduce new ideas and projects within their indigenous communities. MPUMATRIC will continue lobbying for the rights of the Talaandig tribes and promote the Indigenous Peoples Plan to various stakeholders. One of the stakeholders additionally noted; 

“In our experience as indigenous community, the most successful empowerment approach we used in implementing the project is balancing both the interests of the rights holders and the stakeholders or ancestral domain social actors. The two cannot be separate as far as indigenous peoples’ development is concern. Though the LGU officials are undeniably the most influential actors given their authority and resources, but the rights holders too, in particular the pillars of the tribal community who are known to be “experts” in various traditional-cultural fields shall be wisely be introduced also in the agenda of development.” 

“In our experience as an indigenous community, the most successful empowerment approach we used in implementing the project is balancing both the interests of the rights holders and the stakeholders or ancestral domain social actors. The two cannot be separate as far as indigenous peoples’ development is a concern. Though the Local Government Unit officials are undeniably the most influential actors given their authority and resources, the rights holders too, in particular, the pillars of the tribal community who are known to be “experts” in various traditional-cultural fields shall be wisely be introduced also in the agenda of development.” MPUMATRIC Team In line with with the objectives of the project Formulation of the Talaandig tribe’s Indigenous Peoples Plan in the Palaopao and Upper Mangima Tribal Communities, on September 15, 2018, at the Covered Court in Zone 1, Ticala, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, sixteen Barangay Officials composed of Punong Barangays and Kagawads from the ten Barangay Local Government Units (LGUs), namely Dalirig, Maluko, Ticala, Kalugmanan of the Municipality of Manolo Fortich and Barangays Vista Villa, San Roque, Kulasi, Puntian, Ocasion, and Licoan of Municipality of Sumilao signed a commitment to support the formulation of the Indigenous Peoples Plan (IP Plan) to be incorporated in their respective Barangay Development Plans.

Looking at it in detail, this is what MPUMATRIC was able to achieve during this project period.  Financial policies and internal control systems are now already in place as adopted by the MPUMATRIC Council of Elders.  The Technical Working Group or Planning Team was tasked to discuss and prepare the planning framework according to the indigenous belief, indigenous knowledge systems, customary law, traditional governance, traditional sustainable livelihood, health systems, security, peace and order of the tribal community. Seven Council of Elders’ meetings were conducted for the Mt. Palaopao Upper Mangima Tribal Communities (MPUMATRIC) during the whole duration of the project, with an over-all of 29 attendees. Most activities were held in barangay Dalirig, Manolo Fortich, the official address of the organisation. The rest were held in Kisolon, Sumilao, Bukidnon, where the IP peace and Governance Center is located. The Council of Elders organisation’s policy and governing body were tasked to develop and promulgate policies relative to the IPs’ rights to the ancestral domain, culture, environment, self-determination, and empowerment. On September 7, 2019 at Dalirig, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, the Technical Working Group or IP Plan Team, once again met to iron out some matters needed to fully complete the IP Plan manuscript. Outputs were immediately forwarded to the contracted writer for detailed technical work. To name a few, additional subjects being improved and/or added to the plan are the following:

1. Indigenous Political Structure (IPS)
2. IP Planning Team
3. MPUMATRIC’s organisational information

Future plans of MPUMATRIC regarding their work in lobbying for the Talaandig tribes in the Palaopao and Upper Mangima Tribal Communities is to continue promoting the Indigenous Peoples’ Plan to various stakeholders once the lockdowns brought by the Covid19 Pandemic are lifted.