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UP president meets with Tagbanua IP org leaders

| Written by Fred Dabu

NTCQ leaders and university officials pose for a group photo during the former’s courtesy visit to UP President Angelo Jimenez (seated, center).
Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.

 

Leaders of the Nurunutan Yang Tagbanua Calamian Tong Calawit may Quezon Indigenous peoples organization in Palawan, led by Chairman Roy Dabuit, met with University of the Philippines officials, headed by President Angelo Jimenez, Aug. 4 at the Executive House, UP Diliman.

 

Jimenez visited their community in March, when he was speaker for the graduation ceremony of Calawit New Quezon High School, a UP Gurong Pahinungód partner school. 

 

UP President Angelo Jimenez (facing) receives Tagbanua IP organization leaders at the Executive House, the university president’s official residence in UP Diliman.
Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
UP Visayas Pahinungód Director Jerry Leonida (right) gives an update on activities under development that will involve UP units, faculty, and students, and in partnership with communities in Palawan.
Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
Chairman Roy Dabuit (left) of the Nurunutan Yang Tagbanua Calamian Tong Calawit may Quezon talks to university officials about areas of possible collaboration.
Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.

 

The courtesy visit served as a follow-up meeting for the creation of a university task force that can coordinate with various UP units and provide NTCQ with academic and technical support for various development projects to be done in Calauit Island. University officials initially aim to conduct an anthropology study, ecosystem assessment, ecotourism planning, and come up with interventions to assist the IPs in improving their water collection and distribution systems, and use of land, among others.  

 

University officials in attendance were Executive Vice President Caesar Saloma, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Terry Congjuico, Padayon Public Service Office Director Maria Faith Varona, Office of Alumni Relations Director Tricia Endozo-Villanueva, UPD School of Urban and Regional Planning Dean Dina Magnaye, and UP Visayas Pahinungód Director Jerry Leonida.

 

NTCQ represents the Tagbanua IPs of Calauit Island and leads them in promoting community governance, protecting ancestral domains, and engaging with partner institutions for coastal resource management, education, and rights-based development.