From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 21, 2020): Surigao Sur IPs hail completion of tribal school (By Alexander Lopez)
NEW TRIBAL SCHOOL. Manobo children in Sitio Simowao in Lianga, Surigao del Sur witness the formal turn-over of their school last Sept. 16, 2020. The completion of the school is considered a victory by the tribal leaders in the area in their fight to provide their children with quality education. (Photo courtesy of 3SFBn)
Tribal leaders in Lianga, Surigao del Sur hailed the completion and turnover of a school for indigenous people (IP), which they said will ensure the future of their children.
Datu Constancio Duhac, Lianga Manobo tribal chieftain, said the completion of the tribal school in the area was a "victory after years of struggle to render quality education for our children".
“Now, we have a school that we can call our own, ensure the better education for our children, and shield them from the influence of the Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs),” Duhac told the Philippine News Agency on Monday (Sept. 21).
The Department of Education (DepEd) IP Schools of Living Traditions in Sitio Simowao in Lianga was formally turned over to the Manobo tribe and the local government of Lianga on Sept. 16 by Surigao del Sur Gov. Alexander T. Pimentel.
The two-classroom building, equipped with 150 armchairs and three comfort rooms, was received by Lianga Mayor Novelita M. Sarmen, Datu Duhac, and Hawudon Jumar S. Bucales, the Manobo's representative to the town council.
Duhac recalled the struggle of the Manobo tribe to have the IP school established.
“We were met by opposition especially from groups influenced by the CNTs. They want to continue the operations of their schools that would put our children in danger and in the hands of the communist terrorists,” Duhac said.
Another DepEd IP school was also handed over by Pimentel on Sept. 16 in Sitio Locnodon, Barangay Mahaba, in neighboring Marihatag town.
“The DepEd accredited IP schools in Lianga and Marihatag will replace the non-DepEd accredited and CNT-linked Tribal Filipino Program in Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) schools and the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. or ALCADEV,” Bucales said Monday.
He recalled that among those who opposed the creation of DepEd-accredited IP schools is Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat.
“Rep. Cullamat belongs to Manobo tribe and herself a native of Lianga, yet she and the rest of the members of the Makabayan bloc in Congress continue to oppose the construction and development of an IP school accredited by DepEd,” Bucales said.
He also recognized the role of the military in the establishment of the school, including the Army's 544th Engineer Battalion, in the construction of the school.
The tribal leader also lauded the Army's 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) for conducting operations to secure the building amid the threat posed by the NPA.
“We, the true IP leaders of Surigao del Sur openly express our support to the military and the police, as well as to the initiatives and interventions of the government through the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 (EO 70),” Bucales said.
Datu Rico H. Maca, the tribe's town council representative in San Miguel town, said the establishment of the IP schools in the province show "the government’s sincere desire to address the root cause of insurgency in the area".
In contrast, Maca said the tribe received "no support from Cullamat and her group. Instead, they keep on attacking the government but remain silent on the killings done by the NPA to the tribal people of Surigao del Sur".
Lt. Col. Joey B. Baybayan, 3SFBn commander, said education remains the "best weapon to counter the terrorism being sown by the NPA in the IP communities in Surigao del Sur".
“These DepEd IP schools will not only provide quality education but also the right values that can preserve and even develop the culture and tradition of our indigenous peoples,” Baybayan said in a separate statement Monday.
He said the 3SFBn will continue to provide support to the IPs and secure their communities, especially the newly-build IP schools from the threats of the NPA.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1116124
Datu Constancio Duhac, Lianga Manobo tribal chieftain, said the completion of the tribal school in the area was a "victory after years of struggle to render quality education for our children".
“Now, we have a school that we can call our own, ensure the better education for our children, and shield them from the influence of the Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs),” Duhac told the Philippine News Agency on Monday (Sept. 21).
The Department of Education (DepEd) IP Schools of Living Traditions in Sitio Simowao in Lianga was formally turned over to the Manobo tribe and the local government of Lianga on Sept. 16 by Surigao del Sur Gov. Alexander T. Pimentel.
The two-classroom building, equipped with 150 armchairs and three comfort rooms, was received by Lianga Mayor Novelita M. Sarmen, Datu Duhac, and Hawudon Jumar S. Bucales, the Manobo's representative to the town council.
Duhac recalled the struggle of the Manobo tribe to have the IP school established.
“We were met by opposition especially from groups influenced by the CNTs. They want to continue the operations of their schools that would put our children in danger and in the hands of the communist terrorists,” Duhac said.
Another DepEd IP school was also handed over by Pimentel on Sept. 16 in Sitio Locnodon, Barangay Mahaba, in neighboring Marihatag town.
“The DepEd accredited IP schools in Lianga and Marihatag will replace the non-DepEd accredited and CNT-linked Tribal Filipino Program in Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) schools and the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. or ALCADEV,” Bucales said Monday.
He recalled that among those who opposed the creation of DepEd-accredited IP schools is Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat.
“Rep. Cullamat belongs to Manobo tribe and herself a native of Lianga, yet she and the rest of the members of the Makabayan bloc in Congress continue to oppose the construction and development of an IP school accredited by DepEd,” Bucales said.
He also recognized the role of the military in the establishment of the school, including the Army's 544th Engineer Battalion, in the construction of the school.
The tribal leader also lauded the Army's 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) for conducting operations to secure the building amid the threat posed by the NPA.
“We, the true IP leaders of Surigao del Sur openly express our support to the military and the police, as well as to the initiatives and interventions of the government through the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 (EO 70),” Bucales said.
Datu Rico H. Maca, the tribe's town council representative in San Miguel town, said the establishment of the IP schools in the province show "the government’s sincere desire to address the root cause of insurgency in the area".
In contrast, Maca said the tribe received "no support from Cullamat and her group. Instead, they keep on attacking the government but remain silent on the killings done by the NPA to the tribal people of Surigao del Sur".
Lt. Col. Joey B. Baybayan, 3SFBn commander, said education remains the "best weapon to counter the terrorism being sown by the NPA in the IP communities in Surigao del Sur".
“These DepEd IP schools will not only provide quality education but also the right values that can preserve and even develop the culture and tradition of our indigenous peoples,” Baybayan said in a separate statement Monday.
He said the 3SFBn will continue to provide support to the IPs and secure their communities, especially the newly-build IP schools from the threats of the NPA.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1116124
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