Migrants’ initiative transforms community through technology and Tri-people empowerment
HONORING THEIR RIGHTS Contribution to the rise of the indigenous people groups in Southern Mindanao 2006 – Present - Future May 26, 2011
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Our territories are our wealth, the major assets we have. And Indigenous people use and steward this property so that they can achieve and maintain a livelihood, and achieve and maintain that same livelihood for future generations.� Rebecca Adamson, instigator Global Indigenous Peoples' Facility Fund, WORLD BANK
Table of Contents Honoring their rights ........................................................................................................... 3 Food security ....................................................................................................................... 4 Access to technology and mechanization .................................................................. 5 Agro-forestry ........................................................................................................................ 6 Economic development ................................................................................................... 7 Claim Ancestral Domain ................................................................................................... 7 Access to clean water ...................................................................................................... 8 Self-Determination .............................................................................................................. 7 Education and Literacy..................................................................................................... 9 Indicators social change ................................................................................................ 10
FRONT PAGE PICTURE: The second Kinder II graduation of IP Manobo children from their first ever school in Biao, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat PASALI Philippine Foundation, May 2011
Writer Jofellini Shane Pulmano Editor Data Maribeth Ty McDonnel Ty Jofellini Shane Pulmano Salido Panalon Vilma Bonifacio Duma Bonifacio Photos Marilyn Ty, Mary Dawn Mantala, Jofellini Shane Pulmano _______________________________________________________________________________________ 2 PASALI Philippines Foundation PROFILE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE GROUPS
150 million tribal people live in more than 60 countries across the world. Although their land ownership rights are recognized in international law, they are not properly respected anywhere. Survival International “The [..] enactment of [..] legislation that protect indigenous peoples’ rights will definitely reinforce the capacity of indigenous peoples to mitigate [..] climate change.” Victoria Tauli-Corpuz Executive Director, Tebtebba
Honoring their rights The IP villages that PASALI enters, in the General Santos area and especially the IP village of Biao, Palimbang, shows similar issues the inhabitants deal with. Among others no food, no water, rampant illnesses, no medical facility, no school, no money, no mechanization, no recognized land rights, land encroachment, effects of GMOs and climate change, and severe discrimination and marginalization by government and other ethnic communities. When PASALI asked one chief what he wanted for his Manobo tribe, he said: “We need food and water, help for our economy, and education for our children.” This sum-up forms the base for PASALI interventions since 2007: Food security Economic development Agro-forestry Access to clean water Education and Literacy Self-determination Claim Ancestral Domain Social change
System of Rice and Corn Intensification Subsistence farming and small-scale commercial farming Plans for rubber plantations Installing hydraulic ram pumps Building their own schools Cooperative formation and direct access to LGUs Ongoing work for a claim in Biao, Palimbang Indicators change in social relationships, gender development, development of youth, and improvement of wellness of the community
This document gives a summary of the changes in these areas for the IPs PASALI has ventured to support. PASALI initial goal is food security but this interventional has spiraled countless unintended positive effects and over time, formed the basis for PASALI to develop concrete schemes that IP communities may draw their empowerment from. So far, 18 water systems are installed in upland communities in Sarangani and South Cotabato. These communities now enjoy access to clean water by a motorless pump system, AIDFI’s hydraulic ram pump, winner of the BBC World Challenge 2010. Also, a Manobo community in Biao, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat has seen tremendous growth in these areas. They have gone from no food, to subsistence farming to small-scale commercial farming in just three years.
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UN Human Rights Article 25 Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food [..] Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act 1997 Section 2.b. Food Security–The State assures the availability adequacy, accessibility and affordability of food supplies to all times; MDGs 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Target 1C: Halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.
Food security -
Introduction of food growing techniques System of Corn Intensification System of Rice Intensification for upland rice Organic farming Subsistence farming to small-scale commercial farming
Before 2007 the Manobo Indigenous People community of Biao lived a nomadic existence, moving from one area to another. They lived on hunting, root gathering, and sporadic vegetable growing. Their food supply was so little that by the time PASALI entered the scene in 2007, the groups suffered greatly from hunger and illness. PASALI introduced planting techniques, farm equipments and technology, and brought their own farmer technicians to instruction and give trainings. With input from the Department of Agriculture and PASALI’s techniques, the community began growing rice System of Rice Intensification, and later corn and other vegetables for their own consumption in 2007. The outcome was directly visible: when first the village had nothing to offer their guests, now the guests were offered a myriad of good things. In 2008, the group began applying an adapted version of System of Rice Intensification for corn, System of Corn Intensification. This system needs less water than the conventional chemical-based corn known to be grown in the area and no synthetic inputs. After several IP leaders did training for financial literacy facilitated by PASALI in 2010, they devised their own alternative crop system with over 10 households for communal care of the production, named Compact Farming. Figure 1 – we are currently gathering data from Biao’s monitoring.
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Access to appropriate mechanization -
EED-TFIP 6-Point Food Security Agenda 6.b Developing the capacity of indigenous peoples to strengthen their food security; Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act 1997 2.a. The State shall ensure that the poorer sectors of society have equitable access to resources, income opportunities, basic and support services and infrastructure especially in areas where productivity is low as a means of improving their quality of life compared with other sectors of society.
technology
and
CORN MILL design and fabrication CORN SHELLER design and fabrication Contribution to up-scaling subsistence and commercial farming
Since the Manobos began having harvests of corn, they processed it manually, with a stone or wood corn grinder. PASALI designed and fabricated a corn mill machine, which the community in Biao has used since 2009. A PASALI engineer based its design on a manual coffee grinder from the Netherlands. Its runs on a 9- HP generator, donated by a PASALI Dutch corporate partner. Several capable IPs were trained for the maintenance of the machine and the community members take care of their own fuel. In 2011, PASALI also fabricated a corn sheller. Rather than them manually removing the husk from the corn, this machine removes it for them. It too runs on the 9 HP generator. These machines helped the village upscale their production and supply. The traders of two new markets in the vicinity of Biao have made the corn farmers of this Manobo village the main supplier of their corn. Biao inhabitants have sped up and put extra care in their corn growing, seeing possibilities with their machines. Other Manobo communities have approached PASALI and the elders of this village, inquiring after these machines and the planting methods that have already spread out to four other villages. PASALI plans to design and fabricate more machines to complement the agricultural production of the IPs, including implements for the processing of rubber once the agro-forestry plans start. Other appropriate technologies already in line and could be fabricated for IP villages, are: -
FERTILIZER PROCESSER (processing organic fertilizer) HYDRAULIC RAM PUMP (by BBC World Challenge winner AIDFI) ROTARY WEEDER (for SRI rice and other crops)
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MDG 2.7 7A: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs; reverse loss of environmental resources Target 7B: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss: - Proportion of land area covered by forest - CO2 emissions, total, per capita and per $1 GDP (PPP) Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Agenda 11. Ensure a more serious consideration of climate change and comprehensively integrate measures to protect and preserve the environment in the promotion of a sustainable development plan for Mindanao. EED-TFIP 6-Point Food Security Agenda 4a. We shall defend and protect resources by implementing sustainable natural resource management programs, specifically those that rehabilitate the forest and water resources in order to protect the natural resource base.
Agro-forestry: Rubber Introducing rubber to IP communities, gives them a sustainable cash crop that’s in line with their cultural care of nature and contributes to climate change mitigation. ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF RUBBER TREES Rubber trees are a sustainable cash crop, sustainable source of wood, minimal care and investment with large potential income, and source of employment for thousands of people, including small-holder farmers. 75% of the rubber farmers are small-holders operating from 2 to 5 hectares. The level of domestic rubber production supplies only 40% of the domestic consumption. Due to the slow rate of replanting and new planting programs, the Philippines will experience shortage of about 20,000 – 30,000 tons of natural rubber annually.1 ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF RUBBER TREES Agro-forestry with rubber is reforestation, anti-soil erosion, anti-soil exhaustion en reduces use of nitrogen fertilizers on land filling (unlike monoculture crops, trees give soil conditioning), lifts ground water levels, contributes to anti-global warming (produces O2 and adsorbs CO2). Our average CO2 consumption in the Philippines is 0,8 – 1 ton per person per year2, while trees consumes 117 210 kg CO2/ha daily.3 This considering, agro-forestation with rubber is force for climate change mitigation. STATUS February – March 2011 April 2011 May – on
Meetings and knowledge exchanges with Initial proposal to DA for rubber for Biao accepted and pending acceptance: 10 hectares, 500 trees per hectare, plus facilities and equipment. Start 1 hectare of rubber trees in Biao
www.philmech.gov.ph/phindustry/rubber.htm www.tradingeconomics.com 3 Tuzhikina, V.V. (2006), “Carbon dioxide exchange in the photosynthetic apparatus of trees in a mature spruce phytocenosis of the northern taiga subzone,” EKOLOGIYA, RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Volume 37, Number 2, 84-89 1 2
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Figure 2: PASALI began mapping out the ancestral area of the Manobos in Biao, to provide the necessary data for their ancestral claim. EED-TFIP 6-Point Food Security Agenda 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine their own development. Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Agenda 1. Recognize, respect and fulfill the right to selfdetermination of the peoples of Mindanao, including [..] the ancestral domain and tribal governance of the Lumads, 12. Effectively address the economic issues and concerns, particularly food security, exportimport policy, plantation economy, and commercialization.
Economic development -
Production SRI upland rice Production SCI upland corn Production mixed vegetables: unions, eggplants, etc Compact Farming Creation of four functional farm cooperatives Creation of two new markets in the upland area Sales of food produce on three local markets Increase in demand for transportation
With PASALI’s assistance with technology and trainings on agriculture, IP members of Biao started growing food in larger scale than they did before with SCI for upland corn and SCI for upland rice, actually do so in an environmentally friendly manner. In 2010 they devised their own farm management scheme, which they named Compact Farming. At the end of 2010, PASALI facilitated and gave trainings to Biao IPs to organize themselves into cooperatives. There are now 4 functional cooperatives ranging from 15 – 45 household members. Soon they will all be recognized formally by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
UN Declaration on the The production of corn grew to such quantities that the farmer households sold Rights of Indigenous their produce at the Women’s Market in Kanipaan, Palimbang. Inspired by this Peoples Article 21 1. Indigenous peoples market, the possibilities of their machinery and growing quantity of food, the have the right, without cooperatives started two markets in two villages. For people who formerly discrimination, to the suffered from hunger, having their own market is not just a novelty but a great improvement of their step forward. The members of the cooperatives provide the supply for the economic and social conditions, market traders. This increased the demand for transportation, which in that area 2. States shall take is the horse. Now members are asking for the development of roads, since the effective measures to dirt roads are regularly distraught by the tracks of the Vietnam car, the vehicle ensure continuing the loggers in the area use. improvement of their economic and social conditions. Article 23 Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for With the increase of production and participation, the number of skilled IP exercising their right leaders in Biao also increased. With PASALI’s lobbying, their representatives now to development. Article 29 have direct access to the LGUs in Palimbang. At recent local elections at the 1. Indigenous peoples barangay that overseas Biao included a representative of the IP community. have the right to the Furthermore, PASALI started mapping out Biao early this year, identifying key conservation and ancestral cultural sites, to provide the data needed for the ancestral claim protection of the environment and the which PASALI will assist the community with. The major of Palimbang has productive promised the chief financial assistance when the time comes to file the claim. capacity of their lands or territories and resources. _______________________________________________________________________________________ 7 PASALI Philippines Foundation PROFILE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE GROUPS
Self-Determination and the Ancestral Domain Claim
Easy access to water
Self-determination (continued) UN Declaration IP Rights Article 26 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired. 2.Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess .. 3. States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands, MDG 2.7c Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation (for more information see the entry on water supply)
- Most of areas where 21 Ram pumps were installed are upland communities. This technology from AID Foundation can pump water 24/7 to elevated areas without fuel or motor. Nature itself propels the water up. The PASALI technical center is the installation group in Mindanao. The size of ram pumps vary from 3/4 to 6 diameter. The commonly installed 1 diameter pump costs 17,000 pesos excluding the installation cost. The water source determines the size of pump to be used. The more water, the bigger size of pump can be used. In fact, a six diameter pump can be used for irrigation purposes upland. Surveys and studies for ram pump installation was already conducted in Biao. Proposals were already made and submitted to funding agencies but aren’t yet approved due to limited water source, therefore, limited beneficiary.
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Education and Literacy
Self-determination (continued) UN Declaration Rights Article 26.
IP
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. MDG 2.7c
Education is a secondary need but Duma, the tribal chieftain of Biao recognized its importance as they had experienced being swindled by opportunists. In 2008, Children’s Desk assisted community members in their application to the DSWD for a day care center and application to DepEd for a school. As Biao initiated its non formal education back in 2008, they eventually gained the recognition of the Department of Education last 2011. The Biao Primary school was annexed to an Elementary School in Kanipaan which is in lowland. Last March, 10 Manobo honor students were recognized in the said elementary for the first time. More children are encouraged to finish all the way to higher education. This year, the government will hire and assign licensed teachers in Biao and build a concrete classroom. Around 170 children are expected to formally re-enroll in Grade I for academic year 2012-2013. Many communities were inspired by the progress of Biao. Actually Sitio Uloson, a neighboring Manobo village initiated its own school and is asking assistance in PASALI for its recognition.
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EED-TFIP 6-Point Food Security Agenda 6e. Recognizing the role of indigenous women as co-stewards in ensuring food and livelihood security 5. Indigenous sociopolitical systems are essential to food security MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Agenda 1. Recognize, respect and fulfill the right to selfdetermination of the peoples of Mindanao, including [..] the ancestral domain and tribal governance of the Lumads, 12. Effectively address the economic issues and concerns, particularly food security, exportimport policy, plantation economy, and commercialization.
Indicators social change UN HD goals (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. Article 25. (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
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