In celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples Month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII will conduct series of activities in partnership with other government agencies.

Presidential Decree 1906 declares every October as the National Indigenous Peoples Month based on the constitutional mandate of recognizing and protecting the rights of indigenous cultural communities geared towards national unity and development.

This year’s celebration also marks the 19th year since the passage of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act more known as the IPRA Law No. 8371.

Anchored on this year’s theme “Indigenous Peoples Empowerment Towards Peace, Unity and Development,” DSWD-7 will conduct IPRA Law re-orientation, medical mission, mobile registration and cultural presentations that will first take place in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on October 14, 2016.

The said barangay is said to have the most number of Bajaus in Cebu. The Atis of Naga City, Cebu were also invited to join the activity.

Also, the same event is slated in Candijay (October 26), Dauis (October 21), Pilar (Octobe 27) and Guindulman (October 28) all in Bohol Province. It will be attended by the Bajaus, Atis, and the Eskaya tribe.

The event is in partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous People, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Public Attorneys Office, Department of Education and Technical Education Skills and Development Authority together with host local government units. ###

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