Davao tribes benefit from government programs
AMONG Davao City's 11 tribes who are given tribute during Kadayawan sa Dabaw, five are considered original settlers of the city long before it became a chartered city.
The five indigenous communities are the Klata tribe in Calinan, Ata in Paquibato District, Ovu Manuvo and Matigsalog tribes in Marilog District and Tagabawa in Toril.
Indigenous Peoples (IP) representative Councilor Bai Halila Sudagar, in an interview with SunStar Davao, said the city government has implemented several projects for these IP communities for their livelihood and to cater to their needs.
As the city with most number of IP population in the country, Sudagar said the City Government has seen the importance of preserving their culture and heritage as they play significant roles in the city's history and development.
Sudagar said the very first initiative of the city in prioritizing the IP communities was the appointment of the deputy mayor representing each tribe, which consists of the five IP tribes and six Islamized tribes -- the Kagan, Maguindanaon, Maranao, Sama, Tausug, and Iranun.
"The appointment of deputy mayors is very helpful to us in the government as there will be a voice representing each tribe, especially our IPs who are mostly situated in far-flung areas. Their needs are easily addressed and their well-being are assessed," Sudagar said.
Indigenous People's Mandatory Representative (IPMR) were also appointed in the barangay councils of every IP community in the city. IPMRs help the city government become more aware of the pressing issues in the IP communities as it is a barangay-based system to respond to matters that deputy mayors do not have regular access with.
Sudagar said through IPMR, the City Government was able to send several medical and financial assistances to the IP communities. Last August 6, the City Government provided college scholarship to 28 students from different IP communities.
"The National Commission on Indigenous People also helps us with various programs and assistance we conduct," she said.
To further protect and strengthen the IP’s culture, Sudagar said a city ordinance is being proposed at the committee level, promoting the proper use of IP traditional attires and dances by various private and school organizations. This mandates everyone to ask permission to the tribal leaders before its presentation or use, assuring that the tribe's culture can be presented correctly by the performers.
She added that this proposed city ordinance aims to help the IP community preserve their culture as most tribal leaders complain that various tribal performances by dance groups and other performers augmented modern dances with their traditional dance and were observed wearing wrong tribal costumes.
"Being able to perpetuate their culture is the number one problem of most IP tribes in the city. Davao, as we all have observed, is taken over by numerous developments and western influence," Sudagar said.
The city councilor said equal rights and privileges for IPs must not only be given and observed during Kadayawan festival, but all the time. She said Dabawenyos must remember that the city they are living in used to be the dwelling place of these indigenous people.