LIANGA, Surigao del Sur — The Caraga Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), indigenous peoples leaders and the Lianga local government, strengthened indigenous education through an outreach program and school visitation on March 6 at Simowao Elementary School of Living Traditions (ESLT) in Sitio Simowao, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
This initiative, aligned with the whole-of-nation approach, brought together 17 government agencies, bolstering culture, education, livelihood and social services in the indigenous community. Various government services were provided, including legal advice, police clearances, indigenous peoples (IP) consultation and livelihood consultation. The Department of Agriculture distributed 100 chickens with feed to support sustainable farming among the indigenous people.
During the visit, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Maria Loisella Lucino, chairperson of the RTF-ELCAC in Caraga, emphasized the task force member agencies’ collective commitment to indigenous education. School and office supplies, including books, fire extinguishers, whistles, hard hats and information, education and communication (IEC) materials, were distributed to support educators and students. Students received slippers, hygiene kits, school supplies with sling bags and vitamins to promote their health and well-being.
According to DepEd Surigao del Sur Division Superintendent Lorenzo Macasocol, five IP schools provide basic education in remote IP communities of Lianga: Logdeck Indigenous People (IP) Elementary School (established in 2017), Kiwagan Elementary School of Living Tradition (ESLT) – offering kindergarten to Grade 2 with a single multi-grade teacher to 14 students, Kabahina ESLT, Han-ayan ESLT and Simowao ESLT – serving a total of 103 students from kindergarten to Grade 6, as of February 2025.
Despite these efforts, Simowao ESLT teachers highlighted the absence of a DepEd-accredited IP secondary school in the area, forcing graduates to depend on the Alternative Learning System (ALS) for further education.
While secondary schools are available in Lianga town proper, they are not IP-focused institutions and are located far from the indigenous community. This distance presents a significant challenge, as many IP families struggle to afford transportation, lodging and daily needs, making continued formal education difficult for indigenous youth.
Macasocol said DepEd in Surigao del Sur plans to expand Simowao ESLT to an integrated school to offer secondary and senior high education. This will be realized with collaborative efforts of school and community leaders, as there will be a process to comply with this request.
The DepEd-IP School of Living Traditions in Sitio Simowao stands as a beacon of cultural preservation and education for the Manobo tribe. Established in response to the community’s concerns over the absence of a DepEd-accredited school and to address the longstanding issue of the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS), known as a communist terrorist group-affiliated school.
The school ensures indigenous students receive formal education while integrating their cultural heritage into the curriculum. Beyond academics, students engage in storytelling, traditional practices and indigenous arts, fostering cultural pride and identity. It also serves as a foundation for future leaders who will carry forward the heritage of their community while being equipped with modern education.
“My family is one of the 15 households that decided to return to the community after we abandoned the area due to combat between government soldiers and insurgent groups,” said Ailyn Balle, 32, a resident and mother of three students at Simowao ESLT, in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency Caraga team.
“My first request when we returned was for the government to provide a school for our children, and I am glad that this was given to us. Thank you for also visiting our community and the services you provided,” she added.
The collaboration between the RTF-ELCAC, DepEd and other government agencies underscores the commitment to inclusive education, peace and sustainable development in Surigao del Sur’s indigenous communities.
Through these initiatives, the government continues to build pathways for peace, cultural resilience and progress, ensuring no indigenous child is left behind in the pursuit of education and opportunity. (NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur)
