IPs need gov’t help in solving social, economic concerns
The Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities in Panay and Guimaras need further help from the government to address the basic and social issues affecting their daily lives.
Panay-Guimaras Ati Federation President Gregorio Elosendo called for an extensive government approach in solving the issues and concern they are facing. There is much to be done in order to achieve the targets for the IP communities.
The IP’s had their 1st Ati Forum Monday afternoon at the conference room of the Iloilo provincial capitol. They have presented issues and concerns for the government as well as non-government organizations to consider in their effort to help the IPs.
Among the basic and social and economic issues presented by the different IP communities in Panay and Guimaras are land ownership, livelihood program, education, employment and health.
The seven IP communities that attended the forum are those from Barangay Poblacion Sitio Tarog, Nueva Valencia; Barangay Lipata Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo; Barangay Mostro, Anilao; Barangay San Miguel Sitio Kati-Kati, Jordan in the province of Guimaras; Barangay Maabay Sitio Liningwan, Sibunag in Guimaras, Barangay Camiros Sitio Bugnay, Anilao and Barangay Badiang Sitio Balagon, Anilao.
Elosendo, who comes from the IP community in Barangay Lipata, Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo, said they are still waiting for the government to issue another proclamation order to grant them ownership of the 946 hectares ati reservation.
In the same forum, the IP’s want a livelihood program that suits their culture and same time a market to sell their products. Some of the IP communities have availed of handicraft training from non-government organizations.
The IP communities could not always rely on the gift of nature from gathering herbal plants to exotic and extinct animals found in the forest for food, said Elosendo.
On education, they want a college scholarship. Elosendo said 80 percent of the atis in Sitio Nagpana are already educated. It is much higher compared with the other IPs communities.
The IPs also want their own version of Sitio Botika where they could buy much cheaper medicine for their needs.
The 1st Ati Forum was sponsored by the Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI). It is part of their program to help the poorest of the poor in the community.
TSKI Micro-finance Success Institution and Business Development Services Division head Rey Ambao said they want to empower the IP communities and transform their lives through community organizing and social preparation.
The TSKI wants to empower them by trying to plan for their communities which involves environmental scanning surveys and translate and analyze their data which are considered as interlocking causes of poverty, said Ambao.
The TSKI are partnering with different international funding agencies such as in New Zealand for the capacity building training of the IP communities.
