August 6, 2007
Dear partners and friends,
Greetings of peace and solidarity!
I have just recently assumed the post as head of office of the Office of Maranao, Higaonon, and Other Cultural Communities (OMaHCC) under the office of Iligan City Mayor. I am just 6-day old in this office and still reviewing its milestones and problems and yet starting to assume planning for its traditional activities relating to Maranao and Higanon’s cultures’ protection & popularization in consonance with our mandates.
OMAHCC is created under City Ordinance No. 04-04-4672, with the following functions:
1. Act as intermediaries in the resolution of conflicts and to look after the rights, needs, welfare and obligations of other ethnic communities which migrated to Iligan city and provide them with services and attention in an equal none-discriminatory way.
2. Put in place long-term damage control mechanisms such that during times of conflict, ridos, lidos, prejudices and biases would not be magnified;
3. Undertake the monitoring of conflicts among cultural and other tribal communities in Iligan city;
4. in a participatory manner, develop plans and strategies to address and respond to the needs and concerns of the Maranaos, Higaonons, and Other Cultural Communities of the city;
5. Formulate measures for the consideration of the city government and provide technical assistance and support in carrying such measures to protect, preserve the rich linguistic cultural heritage such as dances, songs, etc. of the Maranao, Higaonon and other cultural communities in Iligan;
6. Coordinate with religious leaders, elders and the barangay officials to ensure that Maranaos, Higaonons, and other cultural communities rights, needs and welfare are aptly protected and free from all forms of harassments and discrimination;
7. Promote and maximize for the development of the city, the valuable linguistic, cultural and juridical assets of the cultural communities in Iligan city and not to utilize these assets only to add color during presentations in special events and festivals;
8. Ensure that the delivery of basic services and provisions of adequate facilities for the cultural communities are facilitated;
9. Undertake education and information drive through civic engagements to promote harmony and understanding of the diversity of the cultures, beliefs, and values of the Maranaos and the Higaonon and other cultural communities, the aim of which is to lessen biases and prejudices between the ethnic groups and the community at large;
10. Link the Maranaos with the office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) and other line agencies in facilitating certifications, clearances and other related undertaking;
11. Link the Higaonons with the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and other line agencies in such a way that the function of said office will be maximized for the benefit of the Higaonons and other ethnic groups who are migrants of the city;
12. Advice and endorse such measures related to the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of the natural resources in ancestral domain of Maranaos, Higaonons, and other cultural communities to improve their livelihood and living conditions;
13. Exercise such other powers and conduct the needed assessment and comprehensive study and performs such other duties and functions which maybe delegated by the City Mayor and/or prescribed by law and ordinance.
For the past months, OMAHCC is in partnership with traditional leaders/Council of Elders, NCIP and Ecoweb Inc., for the survey and delineation of the Higaonon tribes’ ancestral domain, documentation of its Customary Laws and in the formulation of ADSDPP (in the nearest future). It has also identified problems on environment within their ancestral domain such as illegal mining operations; lack of transparent governance at the barangay level and marginalization in the access of basic social services, among others.
On the other hand, we are still forging towards revitalizing the Sultanate’s functions for peace and development. We wish to partner with NGOS which has expertise on tracing the genealogy of Sultans who are living within the city, as well as the documentation of their Igma and Taritib towards enhancing its traditional system for conflict mediation and management.
These days, we are still strengthening the Imams’ League of Iligan and the Bae Rawatun, a Maranao women organization. We are also working on organizing all Muslim youths organization within the city (school-based, OSY and community-based) to look into their problems and needs.
We are looking forward to know the existence of other tribes in Iligan such as Subanen and Tausug and determine potential point of actions to their problems and needs as well.
The task is big and difficulties are certainly to be hurdled. But be as it may, we wish to network and linkage with organizations and networks with advocacies on IP-rights, peace, environmentalism, youths, gender and development. We hope to develop partnership and collaboration with you these days and in our future endeavors.
Our office telephone number is 00(063)- 225-5094 and our office email address is omahcc_iligan@yahoo.com
Sincerely and best regards,
VIOLETA M. GLORIA
Head of Office
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