KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 22 June) – Students in this city who are Lumad or indigenous peoples will be required to wear their tribal attire every Friday.
Mayor Joseph Evangelista, in his speech during a tribal assembly on Thursday, said he will make sure the policy would be implemented among IP students in government schools.
“Every Friday of the week, every IP student in public schools will wear his or her own tribal attire,” he said.
It will instill in the minds of the IP students the value of their own culture, traditions and customs, he said.
The mayor said he will choose schools located around the six-kilometer radius of Mount Apo, which are IP-dominated, as pilot areas.
The City Information Office said Evangelista will issue an executive order on the compulsory wearing of tribal attire anytime next week.
Datu Camilo Icdang, deputy mayor for the IPs, said a resolution has been passed months back requiring IP students to wear their tribal attire every Friday.
“The resolution was authored by Datu Raden Igwas, mandatory representative for the IPs. As the IPs’ deputy mayor, I fully support such move,” he said.
There are at least 20 public schools, which are IP dominated, in five barangays near Mount Apo – Ilomavis, Ginatilan, Perez, Balabag and Meohaw. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)