Mayor
Roger TamondongTaliño
CARMEN, North Cotabato ---The municipal government of this town celebrated its Indigenous People’s (IPs) Month last October 29 with the Theme: “Convergence for IP Empowerment towards Compatible Lives.”
The
activity was a gathering of the IPs from the different municipalities of the 3rd
district in North Cotabato. It was also the opening salvo for the week-long
celebration of the 62ndFounding Anniversary of this locality on November 15.
Mayor
Roger TamondongTaliño, in an interview, emphasized the important role of the
IPs because “they are a component population of this town and they, too, are
also Filipinos… Without them, this locality (Carmen) is not fully complete.
They have shared in the development landscape of the town.”
The
mayor said this is the first time that the “lumads” celebrated its IP’s Month
here, “that’s why we support their festive moment and extend the resources they
want in order to pursue their whole day activity… the LGU of this locality is
fully supportive of their needs.”
The
local government unit of Carmen has extended amedical outreach during the
celebration program, to include free medical check-up for senior citizens and
children and distribution of medicines to more than a thousand IP
beneficiaries.
The
IPs in Carmen constitute 15 percent of the population while the Muslim
inhabitants comprise 35 percent and the Christian constituents at 50 percent.
“The
tri-people here live harmoniously and are very united without any
discrimination among each other, ”Taliño vouched of his constituency.
Mayor
Taliño also stated that they have provided livelihood projects for the IPs with
capitalization of some Php300,000 under certain terms and conditions. Among the
economic assistance are the distribution of palm oil and rubber seedlings to
private land owners.
He
said the recipients of the livelihood projects have to pay their taxes to the
LGU amounting to Php5,000 as
stakeholders’ counterpart. Tax payment is proof of land ownership with
corresponding real property tax. “And then you will receive the total of Php300,000
worth of these seedlings.”
The
other IPs who are beneficiaries of ancestral domain, the mayor said, will also
receive the same amount of seedlings but free of charge,provided “you plant and
cultivate these seedlings properly, until they grow maturely… I’m doing this
for your own good and for the welfare of your entire family and to uplift your
way of living.”
“Through
these projects, you will earn a lot.And I’m begging to thesepeople, please
don’t sell your rubber and palm oil to other individuals. I ncase of emergency
or if anything would happen to your family circle, just tell me so that we
could arrange some or find certain solutions to your problems,” themayor added.
The
participation and involvement of the IPs in the celebration of the town’s 62nd Founding Anniversary continues
to be the center-piece of the event as more recipients will be extended
livelihood assistance, especially to those who have not yet received their
share of support services.
“Perhaps,
some of them would not believe in my administration’s gesture because I’m a
politician… My offer is not enough for them to believe. But, I should say, I really
understand the ways and customs of these people (to see is to believe for
them).
The
distribution on the first and second batches have been successful and this
time, we are going to distribute for the third batch of recipients. My
intention is really to help these people so they could improve their way of
living and be co-equal among the other population here,” the mayor further said.
(Anne
Acosta)
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