The Lumad of San Luis, Agusan del Sur now have a new school building with two classrooms constructed under the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The building was constructed with a total funding of P3,130,638.

Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the poverty alleviation programs of the government as implemented by the DSWD. It uses the community-driven development (CDD) approach, a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes.  As part of the CDD,  beneficiaries are allowed to participate in barangay-level projects that respond to the communities’ felt needs and problems.

For the Lumad of San Luis, the construction of this two-classroom school building under the Construction of Classrooms for Lumad (CCL) modality responds to the education needs of their children, at the same time preserves and promotes their unique culture and heritage.

In a recent turnover ceremony celebrating the completion of the school building, the students of the DOP Balit IP School in Barangay Balit  recited the poem “Si Palamboan ug si Palagsulat” wearing their traditional clothing in vibrant hues of blue, red, and yellow.

The poem narrates the tale of two brothers’ separate journey to cultural preservation and civilization, which is also an appropriate representation of the project’s objective to provide for the educational needs of the Lumad while retaining their unique culture.

Barangay Balit is home to the Banwaon tribe, a Lumad group that is faithful to their indigenous heritage in spite of urbanization. This is shown through the 40-year old school where culture-based education is firmly preserved.

According to Rene Datur, DOP Balit IP school head, “Nagsugod ang pagpatukod sa usa ka-tulunghaan alang sa mga kaigsuonan natong Banwaon niadtong tuig 1977. Tungod sa taas nato nga respeto sa Lumadnon nga tradisyon, atong giapil ang Indigenous Knowledge System and Practices (IKSP) sa ilang panulun-an sa Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) aron magpadayon lang gihapon ang ilang kulturang sumbanan. (The construction of a school for our Banwaon brothers started in 1977. Because we have a high respect for their indigenous tradition, we included the IKSP as part of their EPP subject to continue their cultural pattern).”

Similar to the ethnic garb of the student orators during the turnover, the additional school building also proudly showcases the dominant colors representing the Lumad community.  The school building is just part of the 94 sub-projects  under the CCL modality of Kalahi-CIDSS  to be implemented all-over CARAGA region.

Datur is grateful for the extended efforts of the Kalahi-CIDSS staff and said, “Wala gayud sila makalimot sa pagfollow-up, pag-overtime, ug pag-immerse diria nga dapit. Sa Binanwaon pa, ‘Madakun ha pasalamat!’ sa inyong kaayuhan sa kabataang Lumad (They never forget to follow-up, render overtime and immerse in this place. In Banwaon dialect, ‘Thank you very much!’ for your kindness towards the Lumad children).”

He also mentioned that they will use the new classrooms for purely academic purposes  to promote and protect Banwaon cultural heritage, and ensuring its elements and essence are passed on the current generation.

DSWD OIC-Secretary Emmanuel Leyco said, “The Department continues to ensure that program guidelines and implementation processes are developed according to the culture and heritage of Indigenous Peoples.  We know that the Indigenous Peoples’ sector is one of the most disadvantaged and we want to help them develop in pursuant to our goal of a “DSWD para sa nakararami” (DSWD for all sectors) and not just for a select few.” ###