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In line with the Indigenous Peoples Month celebration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII recently conducted an Indigenous Peoples (IP) Summit.

Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre attends the Indigenous People (IP) Summit and shares her inspirational message to the different ethnic tribes.

The summit aimed to strengthen the IP culture and to mainstream it in gender sensitivity.

Tribal chieftains and members of various indigenous tribes in Central Visayas namely the Badjao Community from Dauis, Bohol and Brgy. Mambaling, Cebu City, Ati Tribe from Loay, Bohol and the Eskaya Tribe participated in the activity.

The summit was designed to address gender-based violence and other gender related issues faced by both men and women of the different tribal groups.

This issues were given preferential attention because it leads to non-compliance to the conditionalities of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

During the workshop presentation, it was revealed that IP realized that is better to give birth in a health facility rather than in their own house or ‘banca’ as part of their customary practice.

They now opt to give birth in government health facilities to avoid the risk of maternal and infant deaths and for them to have a proper registration of the child.

Aside from DSWD-7, other partner national government agencies (NGAs) like the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Education (DepEd), PhilHealth, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) attended and presented their own programs and services which also complement to the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

“Mapasalamaton ta sa uban nga mga ahensya sa gobyerno nga nitambong karun aron makahatag katin-awan ug makadugang ug sakto nga kaalam sa inyu (We are thankful to other national government agencies who are here today so to explain and provide you correct information),” DSWD-7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said.

“Nasayud kita nga importante ang panaghugpong sa mga ahensya sa gobyerno aron makahatag og sakto nga programa ug serbisyo (We know that unity among government agencies is important in order to provide the right programs and services),” Macapobre added.

Eventually, this would improve the level of well-being through access to internal and external resources and convergence effort of the government.

The Ati Tribe from Loay, Bohol dances their Pangayam (hunting) dance.

The participating indigenous tribe also showcased their culture and tradition through dance and music during one of the Monday convocation of DSWD-7. ###

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