The Regional Inter-Agency Committee (RIAC) for IP Health conducted an IP community visit at Brgy. Titulok, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat last June 13-14, 2019.
The visit served as an opportunity to engage with the community leaders, and hear their stories on accessing health and social services which can lead to developing key course of action among Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) in the region.
Chieftains and the different tribal council of the different tribal groups were all gathered on the first day for the consultative meeting. Participating agencies who joined the RIAC visit aside from NNC were DOH, NCIP, DSWD, PSA, PhilHealth and TESDA.
Each member (including NNC RO XII) were able to present their respective programs, activities and services to be delivered in the community.
Ms. Ruby Ann M. Laurito, Nutrition Officer I of National Nutrition Council Region XII, presented the different programs and services of the NNC according to its mandates. Among which were the advocacies on First 1000 days of life, 10 Kumainments, PinggangPinoy and ASIN Law. She also gave updates of the 2018 Nutrition Situation of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat.
On the second day, the quarterly RIAC for IP health meeting was conducted. Agenda of the meeting include discussion on the results of the IP visit at Brgy. Titulok.
One of the observations during the visit was the organized tribal council of the barangay. Further, during the interaction with IP leaders on their concerns, they were all eager and interested in knowing what services they can freely avail from the different agencies of the RIAC team.
An orientation on the Regional IP Health Plan and Universal Health Care (UHC) Law was also done. Moreover, activities for July to November were discussed and the team agreed that the next IP visit will be on August in T’boli, South Cotabato.
The RIAC will continue to oversee the implementation and monitoring of activities within the Joint Memorandum Circular 2013-01 of DOH, NCIP and DILG and its strategic plan. In addition, NNC XII commits to continue its active participation in the RIAC activities. (RALaurito)
