Gov’t offices dialogue with Monkayo Lumad

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, February 2 (PIA) - - Government agencies under the Information Task Group of the Project Monitoring and Coordinating Council for the National Task Force Diwalwal (PMCC-NTFD) conducted on Friday (January 29) a forum with the indigenous people in Brgy. Upper Ulip, Monkayo, Compostela Valley.

Dubbed as Makigsayod sa Kinaiyahan, the forum was attended by around 150 residents of the barangay including the indigenous people from the neighboring barangays.

DavComVal Information Center Manager Jeanevive Abangan of the Philippine Information Agency stressed that the forum intensified the range of information dissemination to the barangay level by bringing different government agencies to interact with the people.

Among the issues raised during the dialogue were drugs, rebel infestation and the IP share on Diwalwal mining.

Monkayo Chief of Police Supt. Jay Dema-ala said that according to their monitoring, Upper Ulip has become a trade center of drugs to Diwalwal.

“Last month, we intercepted a shabu shipment worth P1.2-million, which was going to be disposed to Diwalwal,” Supt. Dema-ala emphasized.

Dema-ala urged the participants to fight against drugs since it is reason for crimes in the area.

“90% of the crimes committed are drug related,” he added.

Meanwhile, Col. Gilbert Roy Ruiz of the 66th Infantry (Kabalikat) Battalion underscored that the forum was an indication that government is always supporting and assisting its residence.

Col. Ruiz encouraged the residents never to allow their family members to be recruited by lawless rebels since they only bring chaos to the community.

Ruiz reiterated that only when there is peace that the community will progress.

On the IP Share on mining, the members of the Info-Task Group indicated to bring the matter to the PMCC meeting and concerned agencies.

Also present during the event were representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government, National Commission on Indigenous People, Philippine Mining Development Corporation and information offices of Monkayo and Compostela Valley province. (PIA11, Michael Uy)