We usually gathered and held our hearing in an open area. When the rain starts to pour or if it’s too humid, we stop the hearing and we would end up not settling the issues. As a datu, I implement justice and law to maintain peace and unity. We serve as judge and decision makers too.

It was never easy to balance everything, especially when there is no venue to settle our problems. When problems are not settled, tribal wars would erupt.

Through KC Pamana, the Ata-Manobo tribe underwent Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA) in which Datus and community residents were given the privilege to determine their problem. This was a leap of faith and a hope to our tribe. Through the Kalahi-CIDSS, the peace that we yearned for so long was getting closer to our reach. We decided to build an Ata-Manobo Libulongan Center (justice hall).

This center could help us in maintaining peace in our communities. Further, this would help boost our economy as livelihood activities will no longer be disrupted by the wars. Kalahi-CIDSS provided us more than just a ‘peace’ center.  Above all, it helped mobilized indigenous people to become leaders and peace-makers in their own right. (DSWD)

-Datu Jaime Panuayan, Assistant mandatory representative of the Ata-Manobo tribe of Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao Del Norte