KIDAPAWAN CITY – Governor Nancy Catamco today vowed to leave remarkable changes into the lives of Indigenous Peoples in North Cotabato and will not cease to work until it’s done.
This was the statement of Gov. Catamco which she shared before Secretary Allen Capuyan of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Speaking before the tribal leaders and officials of government line agencies, Governor Catamco recalled her fight for recognition, respect, support, and in upholding the rights of IPs when she was a member of the Philippine Congress.
She vowed to continue working at improving the economic status of IPs in North Cotabato province by finding private partners for the livelihood and agriculture support programs for the ancestral domain areas, as among the initiative of her office. The Governor made mention of the proposed Avocado plantation in one of the CADC areas.
“Ang pangutana, kung unsa ang atong ikatabang alang sa tribu dili lang pangutana alang sa mga lider sama ni Secretary Allen, apan sa matag usa,” she said as she called for support among the communities, including the Indigenous Peoples Mandated Representative (IPMR).
Secretary Capuyan visited North Cotabato today particularly Ilomavis and Magpet in relation to Inter-Agency Visitation of indigenous cultural communities to listen to their issues and concerns.
Capuyan said the activity was part of the series of visitation he has been doing in line with the mandate of PRRD to end insurgency involving IPs (ELCAC).
The secretary said he still pushes the initiative despite the meager budget because he is committed to doing his part, being an IP himself.
“Mura tag nagdamgo nga nagmata, kay imposible nga maundang ang problema sa insurhensiya atubangan sa budget nga 80 centavos matag IP,” he said, visibly expressing his dismay over budget cuts under his proposed P20-B budget.
Joining the NCIP Secretary were NCIP RED Mike Mamukid, Commissioner Jennifer Sibug-Las, Provincial IPMR officials Datu Jaime Odo and NCIP Consultants, Datu Joel Unad, Datu Ramon Bayaan, Provincial Director Abdullah Ali of DILG and NHA, DAR, DepEd, PNP, AFP, and LGU and Barangay officials.
