Friday, September 12, 2008 City, lumads sign deal for rehab, dev't projects By Grace L. Plata
THE City Government of Davao signed Thursday a memorandum of agreement with the indigenous cultural communities of Matigsalog for the implementation of Social Rehabilitation and Development Program (SRDP)-Bagong Buhay, Bagong Pag-asa (BBBP) project in Malikongkong, Marilog District.
The Matigsalogs agreed to let the city utilize some 56 hectares of their ancestral domain in Malikongkong as site for the city's four programs -- halfway house for juvenile offenders, home for the aged, extension of the Davao City Jail, and the home for slightly recovered mental patients. This is the brainchild of the mayor's mother, Mrs. Soledad Duterte.
Aside from the halfway house where juvenile offenders will be placed for rehabilitation, a school and a church will also be built.
"Tudluan sila dire ug disiplina. Ako'y magbuot kanus-a sila buhian. Magbutang ta ug mga pari, madre, ug ubang educators arun sila makabalo unsa ilang accountability. Only if the educators say they have learned their lesson will they be released," Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said.
Duterte did not also pass taking a swipe at Senator Francis Pangilinan who authored the Juvenile Justice System.
"Siya gyud akong gimahay sa tanan. Nanaghan ang mga bata nga nagsalig kay dili sila dakpon," Duterte said.
Meanwhile, in return for letting the city use their land, the indigenous people will be granted funding for the development of a tribal village. They will also put up an agricultural school where young indigenous people may learn effective farming and animal raising methods.
"Naa ni siya'y dormitory where the students can stay. All of these are for free. They just have to prove to the city na kaya nilang mu-eskwela nga walay binugoy," Duterte said.
"Now that this has been signed, I will be looking for funds. We will have it by early next year. I will raise 15 million and can maybe ask Congressman [Isidro] Ungab for another 15 million. This can be enough to start with," Duterte said.
