Tribal leader implore Duterte to build schools

To address the indigenous people’s lack of access to education, President Rodrigo Duterte should build more schools rather than threatening to bomb educational facilities in Mindanao’s tribal communities, a tribal leader said.

Datu Jomorito Goaynon, regional chairperson of the tribal group Kalumbay in northern Mindanao, said it would be best if the administration will help these communities in putting up more classrooms and school buildings so that lumad children could avail of free education.

Accusing them of supporting the New People’s Army, Duterte said he will have the lumadun schools bombed. Duterte made the statement during a press conference following his State of the Nation Address on Monday.

The President’s threat, Goaynon said, will put the lives of the tribal students and their teachers in danger, aside from the fact that the building of these tribal schools in northern Mindanao did not come from the coffers of the government but from the people with help of some private organizations, especially the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines who provided teachers and other needs such as books and school materials.

“Dili makatarunganon ang iyang gisulti. It will only embolden the government agents to commit more violations against the lumad people, especially now that we are under martial law,” he said.

In an official statement, National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has made it clear that the government armed forces and its agents “will continue to uphold the human rights and advance the people’s best interest as Congress recently approved the extension of martial law until Dec. 31”

There are about 64 tribal schools operating in the region with more than 3,000 students belonging to the various tribal groups in the region.

Most of these schools are found in Bukidnon, home to members of the seven tribes, the province’s original inhabitants, namely, the Higaonon, Talaandig, Bukidnon, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwanahon and Umayamnon. (davaotoday.com)