1100 M for tribal communities’ livelihood programs
President Duterte will extend 1100 million for the livelihood programs and agricultural development of tribal communities in Mindanao to counter the influence of communist insurgents.
Duterte made the pledge before the leaders of tribal communities in a speech at the Indigenous Peoples' Leaders Summit in Davao City.
In his speech, Duterte vowed to facilitate the entry of investors and government assistance to tribal areas so that they can develop sustainable livelihood.
“Mag-release akong 1100 million, temporary, pangtawid ninyo sa normalcy. ‘Yun ang gami-
tin ninyo (I will release 1100 million, temporary, which you can use to transition to normalcy. Use that),” Duterte said.
“You have to learn something, a skill to help your family,” he added.
Education Duterte also underscored the importance of education to lift lumad communities from poverty, even proposing to put them in good schools at the expense of the government.
"Kung sa Maynila ka, katong gusto mu skwela sa akong eskwelahan, San Beda, Ateneo, La Salle, enroll mo didto, bayad ang gobyerno (If you're in Manila, if you want to study in my school San Beda, Ateneo, La Salle, just enroll, the government will pay for it)," he said.
Put deserving lumads in UP
Duterte said that he will put deserving bright lumads in the slots of University of the Philippines (UP) students who keep on walking out of their classes to protest the policies of the administration.
"Kaning UP, sige ug walkout. Ganina nag walkout. O sige. Kamong dilimangiskwela, hawa mo diha. Kay dad-on ko nang mga nitibong bright ngari. Mao’y ipabutang nako diha.Daghang Pilipino nga gusto’ gedukasyon nga gwapo (These UP students who keep on walking out, earlier, they walked out. Okay. Those who don’t want to go to school, get out because I will bring the bright lumads there, I will enroll them there in UP. A lot of Filipinos want a good education)," Duterte said.
The President also said that he would recruit qualified tribe people to become members of the Armed Forces to fend off the influence of communist insurgents in lumad areas.
Duterte added that he would personally see to it that ancestral domains in the country are protected under his administration and choose investors to develop the areas.
Tribal leaders pledge support
Some 1,100 IP leaders who attended the two-day summit expressed their appreciation to the President and his administration for giving them an avenue to air their concerns to the national government agencies.
They also noted that it is the first time that a President set the initiative to meet with IP leaders.
"We strongly express our continued support to President Rodrigo Duterte, whom we believe will help us shape and achieve our destiny as United Indigenous Peoples Mindanao in our respective ancestral domains," the IP leaders said in a manifesto.