THE CITY government donated 174 sewing machines to six of the 11 tribes as livelihood aid and preservation of culture and tradition, on Feb. 3 at Rizal Park, San Pedro Street.
In a report from the City Information Office, the first six associations selected under each tribe are the Waan Solo Parent EO-70 SLP Association, Doma Farmers Association, Bagobo Klata Livelihood Association, Ata Women Association of Paquibato District, Davao City RIC-IP Women’s Association and the Ovu Manuvu Tribe.
The association was the first batch of the distribution of 320 units of household sewing machines to members of the city’s 11 tribes.
Gabriel Nakan, deputy mayor of the Maguindanaon Tribe and chairman of the Muslim and Indigenous People Affairs Council (MIPAC), thanked the city for the sewing machines.
“I am happy that they recognized our capability, the Indigenous People’s Affairs and the Muslim Affairs, that we could sustain our livelihood,” Nakan said.
Nakan also emphasized the importance of forming tribal associations because by doing so, they can easily engage with various organizations that may want to purchase their products.
Lina A. Laurente, a member of the Bagobo Klata tribe, said that they will use the sewing machines for their traditional attire and other things that can be used in the household.
Bagobo Klata tribe leader Erwin Adolfo said that the request for sewing machines is a consolidated suggestion by deputy mayors of the IP and Moro tribes.
“We want to bring back the culture and tradition and one way of doing that is through our attires, so those sewing machines are useful,” Adolfo said.
The initiative is in collaboration with Peace 911, the Office of the First Congressional District, and the People’s Republic of China.
Photo from City Information Office
