Center for Tribal Communities Rises in Bikol

Iriga City (16 July) -- "The completion of the new office edifice of the National Council for Indigenous People (NCIP) in Bikol is a dream come true for the agency, much as for the natives across the region," thus remarked Bicol Director Lee T. Arroyo during the blessing over the weekend of the Minnie T. Arroyo Center for Indigenous Peoples located at Highway 1 of Barangay San Nicolas, here.

NCIP Chairman and Secretary Roque N. Agton Jr. was full of pride upon seeing the first ever NCIP office building in the country rise in this city, citing that "this has long been envisioned by Minnie, and I am just too happy to see its realization and seeing the fulfillment of Minnie's dream for our IPs."

The modern 3- storey building was named after the late Dr. Minnie T. Arroyo, the first Regional Director of NCIP Bicol, then the Office for Southern Cultural Communities or OSCC.

During her term, Arroyo championed the cause of Agtas, Kabihugs and other tribes in Bikol, while promoting their rights and interests as members of the society.

Aside from NCIP office, the said building will also house a courtroom, one-bed medical and dental clinic, library and museum, function hall, and an 8-bed lodging rooms for male and female occupants. It also houses a canteen, garage, power house, air con units, comfort rooms and multi-media equipment. The edifice is also equipped with state of the art facilities.

The P18.9 million edifice was derived from the P20 million fund allocation through the initiative of Senator Joker P. Arroyo. The lot was bought and donated by the family of the late Minnie Arroyo purposely for the IPs in the region.

As of June 2007, there are only 46, 841 registered IPs region wide out of the estimated IP population in the region of 213, 311. Agtas in Bicol, which form part of this populace, are further subdivided into the sub tribes of Agta Tabangon, Agta Cimaron, Agta Taboy and the Kabihugs of Camarines Norte.

According to Rolando R. Cea, NCIP Bicol chief administrative officer, only a fraction of the IPs benefits from government social services due to meager support and limited political intervention.

"This is the reason why until now IPs continue to be the poorest and most marginalized section of our society," he said.

Yet the NCIP management, thru the headship of Arroyo, is bent on resolving these concerns and set its goal for the development of the IP community.

NCIP is the frontline agency of the government that looks into the concerns and welfare of the country's indigenous people.