KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato,  (PIA) - NCIP 12 regional director Jeanne Anne Moendeg-Zoilo said this year’s 25th National Indigenous Peoples monthlong celebration in October highlights the important role of the indigenous groups in our natural resources and culture, and our role in protecting them.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) leads the celebration in SOCCSKSARGEN with various activities in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Cotabato, and Sarangani to promote public awareness on indigenous peoples and cultural communities and their rich artistic and cultural heritage, the official said at PIA 12’s online program Performing & Informing.

Highlighting this year’s observance is the showcase of the IPs culture through dances, songs, and costumes in the 1st Kislap Katutubo on October 26 at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center, Director Moendeg-Zoilo said about the multi-stakeholders supported engagement.

At the core of the discussion in the program, Moendeg also shared the new mandate for the NCIP under the Marcos Jr. administration, as she encouraged the indigenous peoples and other stakeholders to shift focus to food production.

“Gusto naming ipaalam sa lahat na ang mga programs ng NCIP ay naka-anchor sa agenda ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., una sa lahat iyong kanyang ipinahayag na i-develop natin ang ating mga area sa kabundukan para sa food production hindi lamang para sa mga katutubo kung hindi para na rin sa lahat. 

“We firmly believe in this program, project and agenda of the President in fulfilling the development or coming up with the food basket that we have here in the country. Alam namin na magiging partner kami dahil yung mga malawak na lupain ng ating mga indigenous peoples, our ancestral domains, our ancestral lands can fully be developed and used in partnership with various government agencies especially the Agriculture department in this agenda of the President,” director Moendeg-Zoilo noted.