July 10, 2020
Dear Friends of the Indigenous Peoples,
A peaceful & healthy CoVid-free greeting to you!
Our indigenous brothers and sisters in the remote communities in the Sierra Madre mountains, the Dumagats, appeal for your generous and heartfelt assistance during this Covid-19 pandemic and support for the rehabilitation of their native houses and livelihood as victims of Typhoon Ambo. Some three hundred Dumagat families in isolated communities of General Nakar, Real and Infanta in Quezon Province are in dire need of food due to the difficulty in securing harvests from their long-neglected “kaingin” due to CoVid lockdown.
SANDIWA is a broad network of different IP advocates groups, institutions and individuals that serves as a coordinating service center of support for Indigenous People in the country. It also works hand in hand with Lingkod Katribu, a service-oriented program of the different Indigenous Peoples organizations based in the urban center of the National Capital region in the Philippines. Sandiwa together with LK will conduct a Relief Delivery Operation on August 1 and 2, 2020 in coordination with the local government units and the Prelature of Infanta, in selected Dumagat tribe communities in General Nakar, Real and Infanta, Quezon including other severely affected sectors in the area with total number of beneficiaries of 1,000 families.
Rice as staple food for the IP will be the priority item to be given together with some sugar, coffee, sardines and at least two pieces of notebooks for the school children as their individual personal learning kits who are excited to join the blended education system in this time of pandemic. Dumagat families living near the sea shore facing the Pacific Ocean were badly hit by typhoon Ambo (VongFong) last month of May 2020. They are also asking for canvass tarpaulin to repair their houses. Also, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face mask, face shield, alcohol and hand sanitizers will also be donated to the Mayor’s office in the municipalities of Real, Infanta and General Nakar as our way of showing our appreciation in their fight for CoVid19.
Since our mobility is limited due to this pandemic, cash donations will be very much appreciated. Please send through Palawan Express c/o Gina Cambronero cp#09476180881 or BDO Savings Account 00130007264.
SANDIWA Network deeply appreciates your favorable response to the plea of our Dumagat brothers and sisters.
Sincerely yours,
GINA CAMBRONERO
SANDIWA Coordinator, Relief Operation to Quezon
