The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services National Community Driven Development Program commonly referred to as Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP inaugurated the “Subanon Piglompukan Nog Baloy Nog Mokogulangan” known as the IP Heritage Village on April 19, 2018 in Barangay Tabayo, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

This one-of-a- kind eight structure subproject is a convergent effort of both the Tabayo IP Community and the Barangay Local Government Unit under the congressional fund of Congressman Isagani Amatong for the construction of IP Museum and Kalahi-CIDSS who funded the IP Heritage Village.

The conceptualization of this sub-project was based on the fear among the tribal elders who perceives that the new generation is no longer practicing the Subanen Cultural processes handed over by their forefathers.

“Dako kaayo mig pasalamat ani kay kami mismo, proud mi nga naa mi ingani maski asa mi makaadto nga area” shared by Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee Chairperson Bonifacio Patoh during the turn-over ceremony. (We are very thankful for our own, thus it make us so proud to have this wherever we go”)

Thus, the construction of IP Heritage Village aims to conserve the cultural practices of the Subanen Community in Barangay Tabayo.

DSWD FO IX OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Operations Carmencita D. Luna commends the natives for empowering themselves through community participation and understanding the difference they can achieve in helping each other not just for the community but for the efforts poured to cultural preservation, one that is worth replicating in other IP areas as a unique sub-project in the region.

Deputy Regional Program Manager Roleiste Falsis also challenged the community that through this sub-project “we seek to restore the discipline, the culture, and the practices that would help promote the community’s development based on the capacity of its own community and not from the western influence”.

The IP Heritage Village is one of the most awaited sub-project completed December of 2017 with a total amount cost of Php854,468.00 under KC-NCDDP. Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP is one of the poverty-alleviation programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development which uses community-driven development (CDD) approach, a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes. ### JGA