Surigao Sur IPs, leaders welcome establishment of IPED schools

Surigao Sur IPs, leaders welcome establishment of IPED schools P ovincial News

By Lt. Krisjuper Anreo Punsalan

LIANGA, Surigao Del Sur - The residents of Sitio Simuwao (Kilometer 9) and the Lianga Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) Council look forward to the establishment of the IP Education School in Kilometer 9 to provide quality education for IP children on June.

“As leaders of the IP council of Lianga, we have provided Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) to the government to establish IP schools for the betterment of our tribe because this is what our tribesmen want,” said Datu Constancio Duhac, Lianga Tribal Chieftain.

Sitio Simuwao Chairman Jhunee Salinas expressed his enthusiasm for the planned development but also requested a military detachment to protect the residents and the project from Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) attacks.

“We are happy that the government heeded our call to provide us schools but we also request for the presence of the military to protect us from CNTs’ attacks. They are against the establishment of the IP schools because they know that all TRIFPSS students will transfer eventually in the IPED government schools,” Salinas, said.

The Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur or TRIFPSS is a nongovernment organization run, nonDepEd accredited private school without a license or permit to operate, and an alleged CNT hub along with Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Development (ALCADEV).

Lianga IPMR Hawudon Jumar S. Bucales, reacted on Tandag Bishop Raul Dael and Bishop Emeritus Nereo Odchimar’s contrary remarks on March 6 against their proposed IPED schools for their tribe saying that IPED government schools are no longer necessary.

“With due respect to Bishop Dael and Bishop Odchimar, the IP Council based on our IP Political Structure (IPS), was the one who spearheaded the request for IP schools. We hope you could also have a dialogue with the legitimate IP leadership not only with communist-linked MAPASU so that your perspectives would be balanced,” Bucales said. P ovincial News

The IP council also hit Lianga Councilor and Committee Chair on Education Samuel Dollano for allegedly delaying the approval and signing of the IP leaders’ resolution for the establishment of IPED schools and the closure of TRIFPSS and ALCADEV.

This is the reason why the IPs sought the help of the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the DepEd Caraga Region to craft and approve a resolution for the establishment of IPED schools under Executive Order No.70; s. 2019 and other legal provisions, it was learned.

Meanwhile, the Lianga IP Council mulls on creating a resolution and appeal to the Provincial and Regional Task Forces on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) to apply moral suasion and/or sanctions to Councilor Nelsur Samuel Dollano under DILG memorandum order 2018- 211 and Republic Act No. 10168 known as Terrorism Financing and Suppression Act of 2012 for alleged suspicious transactions with individuals or NonGovernment Organizations (NGOs)/ Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) that are affiliated or related to people suspected of having connection with a terrorist individual, organization, association or group of persons. (CMO3SFBn/PIA-Surigao del Sur)