MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE—Two new tribal halls specifically built by the Bangsamoro Government for the Teduray tribe are now ready for use following a successful turnover on Oct. 14 and 17, 2024, in Barangay Pura in Datu Blah Sinsuat (DBS) and Brgy. Bugabungan in Upi, all in this province.
The 160-square-meter one-storey building, fully furnished with office equipment and essential amenities, features a conference room, an office for tribal leaders, and a reception area. The cost for each building is fixed at P5 million, funded through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) Special Development Fund (SDF) 2021.
MIPA Minister Melanio Ulama emphasized that this project will serve as a venue for Indigenous people to gather during important occasions such as tribal leader meetings and settlements, among others.
“Pasalamatan natin ang Allah dahil Siya ang nagbigay nito. Ginawa lang kami sa MIPA at LGU na daan para maipa-abot at mabigyan ng recognition ang mga IP, ” Ulama said.
“Huwag natin ikahiya na Teduray tayo. During the peace process in Malaysia, I always said that I am proud to be called Bangsamoro and also to be called IP,” he added.
DBS Mayor Datu Marshall Sinsuat, Vice Mayor Bai Raida Sinsuat, Local Government Units, tribal leaders, and indigenous peoples witnessed the ceremonial turnover.
Meanwhile, Mayor Sinsuat is grateful to the MIPA and BARMM Governments for their initiatives in helping the IPs in the DBS.
“Malaking tulong ang building na ito sa mga kapatid nating IPs,” said Sinsuat.
“We are sincerely grateful to BARMM and hope that you will be able to help many more municipalities,” he added. (Myrna S. Tepadan/BIO)
