Sarangani’s First IP Rep Assumes Provincial Board Seat

General Santos City (PNA) — An accomplished B’laan tribal leader in Sarangani Province has assumed as the province’s first-ever Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board.

Fulong Fredo Basino was formally installed by the provincial board on Tuesday as an ex-officio member and representative of the IP communities within the province’s seven municipalities.

In his inaugural speech during the provincial board’s regular session, Basino vowed to pursue various initiatives that will unite the province’s IPs and promote their welfare.

He specifically cited the province’s three main tribal communities — Blaans, T’bolis and Tagakaolos.

Basino said he will prioritize the immediate reconvening of the province’s IP Tribal Council to facilitate the formulation of a common development agenda for the sector.

He will also push for the amendment of the IPMR local guidelines and the organization of a province-wide IP Local Legislators League.

“We need to establish a strong partnership and collaboration with local government units and civil society organizations to help promote and accelerate IP socio-economic development,” he said.

Basino was the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator from April 1996 to February 2000 and served as provincial administrator from 2005 to 2009.

The tribal leader, who took his oath before Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon last Oct. 28, assumed the post three years after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a certificate of affirmation for his selection as IPMR.

His installation was put on hold following questions on the selection process but it was later upheld by the DILG and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

Basino described himself as a “fourth generation leader” of the Diantan clan of Malapatan town in Sarangani.

He said the clan is known as “to kalul” or “people of the ridge” as they resided in mountainous areas of Barangay Sapu Masla in Malapatan.

The B’laans are the largest IP community in Sarangani, inhabiting large portions of Glan, Malapatan, Alabel, Malungon and Maasim towns.

The Tbolis are concentrated in the province’s western section while the Tagakaolos reside in parts of Malungon town. (PNA) FPV/AVE