Manobo, Mandaya communities in Lingig, Surigao Sur welcome modern IP center
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
LINGIG, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — A new indigenous peoples (IP) Center now stands in Lingig, Surigao del Sur, giving the communities of the Manobo and Mandaya tribes a permanent space to strengthen their cultural identity, exercise their rights, and sustain traditions for future generations.
The Department of Public Works and Highways–Surigao del Sur 2nd District Engineering Office (DPWH-SDS 2nd DEO) turned over the one-story facility, built with a floor area of 158.2 square meters and funded under the FY 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) with an allocation of P5 million.
The building is fully equipped with electricity and a toilet, providing a functional and modern venue for tribal consultations, governance, and cultural activities.
For years, many indigenous communities were challenged with access to safe and dedicated infrastructure for their social and cultural needs. With this center, the IPs of Lingig now have a tangible space that recognizes their identity and provides opportunities for empowerment.
Provincial IP Mandatory Representative Hawudon Jimmy Guinsod expressed his gratitude, noting that the center was made possible through the efforts of then 2nd District Congressional Representative and now Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel, in collaboration with tribal leaders and government agencies.
“Daku kaayo akong pasalamat sa atong gobyerno nga natukod ug nabutangan na gayud ug tribal hall ang lungsod sa Lingig. Kini maoy instrumento nga maserbisyuhan ang tribu ug dakung tabang sa pagpreserba sa kultura ug tradisyon sa Manobo ug Mandaya. Dugang pa niini, ma-exercise na ang mga katungod sa tribu nga nalatid sa Republic Act 8371,” Guinsod said.
(I am deeply grateful to our government for the establishment of this tribal hall in Lingig. This will serve as an instrument to better serve the tribes and will greatly help preserve the culture and traditions of the Manobo and Mandaya. Moreover, it enables the exercise of rights guaranteed under Republic Act 8371).
RA 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), enshrines the right to ancestral domain, right to self-governance and empowerment, right to social justice and human rights, and right to cultural integrity. Guinsod emphasized that the new center will help local IP leaders uphold these rights with constant guidance from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
DPWH-SDS 2nd DEO underscored that the facility is not only a physical structure, but also a symbol of unity, peace, and development, a foundation that will strengthen indigenous communities amid modernization and globalization.
With this milestone, the municipality of Lingig reaffirms its commitment to protecting its cultural heritage and ensuring that indigenous identity continues to flourish.
The IP Center now stands as a beacon of hope where Manobo and Mandaya can gather, govern, and pass on their rich traditions to future generations to come. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)
