CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro -- Some 170 leaders of five Mangyan tribes in Mindoro island have pledged support to the government programs under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) during the Southern Mindoro (Indigenous Peoples) IP Leaders Peace Summit held recently in Sitio Banaba, Barangay Benli, Bulalacao in this province.

Brig. Gen. Sidney S. Hernia, director of Police Regional Office MIMAROPA (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) said leaders from Bangon, Buhid, Gubatnon, Hanunuo and Ratagnon tribes together with the Second Provincial Mobile Force Company under Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office, and other government agencies from Oriental and Occidental Mindoro gathered during the said three-day summit with the theme ‘Pamahalaan, Katutubo, at Kasundaluhan, Nagkaisa para sa Tunay na Kapayapaan.’

Hernia said the activity which was spearheaded by the 4th Infantry ‘Scorpion’ Battalion of the Philippine Army had the ultimate goal of promoting the government’s peace and development efforts towards progressive and peaceful indigenous people’s communities.

The attendees underwent lectures on the Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997 (National Commission for IP), Anti-Terrorism Act of 2022 (Philippine National Police), and Recruitment Scheme of CPP-NPA-NDF (4IB, PA).

The representatives of other government agencies discussed various topics such as Clarity and Efficiency of National Greening Program, Soil testing for Identification of Appropriate Plants in the Area, Overlapping on Land Boundaries of Bulalacao, Low Farm Output Prices, Farm to Market Roads, Deployment of Mangyan Teachers in Communities (DepEd), electrification, Registration of IP’s Name in Database, Skills Training Opportunities, Job Opportunities for IPs, Health Care services for IPs in far-flung areas, among others.

The tribal leaders have pledged their commitment and took part in oath signing which established the peaceful resolution in solving issues and concerns among IP leaders in Southern Mindoro.

The summit was also aimed at strengthening the partnership and collaboration between local and government agencies to address the issues and concerns in their communities that are being exploited by the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), Hernia said.

In early May this year, project contractors of the DPWH and members of the business community in Mindoro island had also vowed support to the government’s NTF-ELCAC through a manifesto signing at the Philippine Army’s 203rd Brigade Headquarters, Bansud, Oriental Mindoro.