Students and representatives from various organizations discuss social issues during the Basic Masses Integration with the Lumads at UCCP Haran, Davao City, yesterday. Photo by Anna Sophia Tarhata Piang

Students and representatives from different organizations such as Buklat Atenista, Rise for Education, and the Kabataan Partylist went to UCCP Haran, Davao City to initiate a Basic Masses Integration (BMI) with the Lumad evacuees yesterday, June 20, 2015.

The different representatives interacted with the Lumads while observing and inquiring about their current state of living as well as questioning them about the issues that they faced.

Many of the Lumads were mainly concerned with the current situation regarding their schools and with their state of living because it was negatively affecting the health of everyone, especially their youth.

According to Datu Tongig, “Dili pwede na diri lang mi. Nasakit tanan, tungod kami, mga Lumad, wa gyud mi in-angi kay naandan namo tanan kay sa bukid man jud. Liit kaayo ang mga bata.”

Datu Tongig also added that the Department of Education (DepEd) has played a role in depriving the students of education.

“Karon, daghang mga bata ang nakaiskwela na. Nganong karon pa man gisarado? Dili gyud maayo ang ginabuhat sa DepEd,” he stressed.

Paul Nino Dotollo, regional coordinator of the Kabataan Partylist in Davao City, said the essence of the BMI is being able to deepen the understanding of issues that particularly affect the marginalized sectors such as the Lumads.

“We in Kabataan Partylist encourage the youth to be critical [when it comes to] issues like this. Complete truth does not lie in articles alone, it is found in the oppressed masses. The Basic Masses Integration that took place in Haran precisely offers us the opportunity to know more about the issue.”