Related Information  

Community Owned Rural School
(Marbel Project Summary)

Driven by the conflict of culture, values, system of laws, land ownership, and leadership with dominant ethnic groups, the indigenous cultural communities have retreated into the mountains. Subsisting on Kaingin farming, they continue to struggle in remote areas. They become isolated from the mainstream of society rendering them inaccessible for educational, health and economic programs.

As such, they become vulnerable and easy victim of both individuals and systematic discrimination. They are vulnerable, in particular, to seizure of their lands and abuse of their rights.

     In a needs assessment workshop conducted by the CCC-NDMU, among South Cotabato indigenous peoples, a group of T’boli and B’laan tribal leaders representing Koronadal, Lake Sebu and T’boli indicated the following as their most pressing problems: lack of food; illiteracy; livelihood; health; transportation; and lack of unity and organization.

     These indigenous communities are suffering from the rising incidence of malnutrition and diseases, aggravated by a general lack of health care facilities and basic knowledge of nutrition and hygiene on the part of the general population. With their very low income, which they can hardly eat once a day came an increase in social problem which include stealing, gambling, joining rebel groups, marital problems including wife and child abuse.

     The task of the project proponent then is to look for ways and means of reaching out these depressed, deprived and underserved communities in a manner that is respectful of their culture, responsive to their needs and is sustainable.

    The proposed CCC-NDMU project is a response to the needs of 2 selected indigenous communities in South Cotabato. The project is a holistic approach to meeting the economic, educational, ecological and health needs of identified B’laan and T’boli tribes. As an integrated community-based program it aims to develop local manpower for community development, evolve a mechanism for improving economic activities that will support to raise the community’s educational status, increase awareness and concern on environmental and land issues; and improve their health status.

The project in partnership with the community will be organized into a cooperative whose financial activities will support the community school, farmer members’ agricultural activities, livelihood and health programs. Community trainings will include agricultural productivity to combat poverty; nutrition and sanitation to fight against diseases; functional education program to counteract literacy; and strengthening of tribal community organizations to overcome civic apathy.

The result of this project can be used to evolve a model program for cultural indigenous communities or any rural areas which are deprived of social services and that need this kind of intervention.