As part of the Ugnayang Pambansa para sa Katutubong Kaalaman at Talino (UPAKAT) Inc.’s continuing commitment to building strong partnerships, a workshop was conducted from August 19-21, 2024, in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. This year, the focus shifted to the Nagkakaisang mga Tribu ng Palawan (NATRIPAL) Inc., bringing together indigenous community representatives to participate in an exchange of knowledge event.
Aiming to maintain the promotion and preservation of indigenous knowledge and skills, the Network made their rounds in Mindanao last year, visiting seven UPAKAT partner communities. This year, they turned their attention to Palawan, visiting NATRIPAL and some of its nearby communities.
NATRIPAL is a federation of 63 Indigenous People’s organizations across Palawan. The group consists of three indigenous groups—the Tagbanua, Pala’wan and Batak. Formed in 1989, NATRIPAL was officially registered as a non-stock, non-profit and non-sectarian organization with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 4, 1991.
The workshop aimed to deepen the understanding and foster meaningful learning about the three indigenous groups under NATRIPAL—the Tagbanua, the Pala’wan, and the Batak.
In her opening remarks, Erlinda C. Garcia, president of NATRIPAL, extended a heartfelt welcome to the Tebtebba staff and participants. She expressed her deep appreciation for the opportunity to unite and learn from one another, emphasizing the significance of such gatherings in fostering partnerships.
Following the opening remarks, Roger Lambino of Tebtebba took the stage to introduce the organization. He provided an overview of Tebtebba’s mission and vision, highlighting its dedication to advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights and sustainable development. Lambino shared various programs and initiatives that Tebtebba has undertaken to support these goals, emphasizing the impact and reach of their work in various indigenous communities around the world.
One of the objectives of the activity was to facilitate a focus group discussion among community leaders. The questions explored the level of their implementation of key provisions in their indigenous political structures, including legitimacy, leadership, accountability, and other aspects related to the management and control of their ancestral domains. Additionally, it sought to identify the challenges they are facing in implementing their governance.
The second workshop session was conducted for each indigenous group to determine the number of existing Indigenous Peoples organizations, the total area of their ancestral domains, their leaders, the presence of youth organizations, and their community initiatives such as projects, livelihood programs, and other activities.
Another significant event during the activity was a session on loss and damage, led by Kalea Adrienne Aquino of the Climate and Biodiversity Program of Tebtebba. During this session, Aquino elaborated on the concept of loss and damage, highlighting its importance in the context of climate change and its impact on vulnerable communities. She provided an in-depth explanation of the various dimensions of loss and damage, including both economic and non-economic losses.
The visit in Palawan is part of UPAKAT’s ongoing mission to support and empower indigenous communities throughout the Philippines.
