Releases

For centuries, indigenous peoples in the country have survived by relying on their indigenous knowledge systems and practices. Parts of these are the various genetic resources and the related farming practices that have ensured, not just their food security, but the sustainable use of natural resources.

Quezon City, 7 October 2009 --- A group of indigenous peoples belonging to EED Philippine Partners' Task Force for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (EED-TFIP) on Wednesday called for the promotion and utilization of indigenous knowledge in using our natural resources.
 
“We have much to learn from the collective wisdom of the different indigenous peoples in the country. Lampisa, lapat, innabuyog and many other indigenous knowledge systems are often romanticized, deemed as backward, or brushed aside as insignificant,” said (EED-TFIP) convenor Jill Cariño during the press launching of the Indigenous Trade Fair and Knowledge at the Tree House Restaurant in Quezon City.

Press Release

October 7, 2008
 
Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP), People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS) and other civil society organizations, are initiating a call to observe October 16, 2008, World Food Day as the World Foodless Day. Various groups from Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Korea, Japan, China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mongolia, Hongkong, Indonesia, Philippines, Uganda and Kenya have expressed their intention to participate in this event, assert people’s food sovereignty and commit to a Day of Global Action with simultaneous events, protest actions and activities.
 
“World Foodless Day is about reality – the reality among majority of people who go hungry everyday. While governments and intergovernmental organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will talk about the World Food Day and how everyone is working to bring food to the table, the reality is that there are more hungry people today than ever before – over 150 billion,” says Antonio Tujan, co-chair of PCFS. He adds, “The irony is that many of the policies being promoted under neo-liberal globalization such as Green Revolution for Africa or the so-called Gene Revolution will only result in more hunger as has been proven in past experiences in Asia.”
 
 

20 August 2008
 
Dear President Macapagal-Arroyo,
 
The German Action Network Human Rights – Philippines, comprising of the church-led development organisations Bread for the World/Diakonie, Church Development Service (EED), Misereor, Missio, United Evangelical Mission (UEM) and of philippinenbüro in Asia House, would like to express its serious concern regarding the current conflict in central Mindanao. Due to the recent outbreak of war in Mindanao more than 70,000 people have become internally displaced and now rely on humanitarian aid and on the conflicting parties to stop fighting. we would like to appeal to all actors in the conflict, the MILF, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) as well as local politicians and other armed groups to refrain from the use of violent force and adhere to the agreed peace process.
 
The Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) recently issued by the Supreme Court has stalled the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA). While we consider this a major setback in the quest for peace, we believe that the Supreme Court shouldn’t allow itself to become a stumbling block in resolving a political conflict that requires a political solution. We therefore appeal to the Supreme Court to lift the TRO and allow the peace process to move forward.
 
 

The food security of indigenous peoples in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya is being threatened by the large-scale mining operations of OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) and Oxiana-RoyalCo. At the same time, the FPIC process under the IPRA law brings disunity among the IPs residing in the mining-affected areas.
 
Different organizations like the Philippine Network for the Environment (PNE)-Kalikasan, Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan (RDC-KADUAMI), which is a member of the EED-Task Force for IP Concerns (EED-TFIP), joined the Congressional hearing with their partner Save the Valley Environmental Alliance together  with the local people organizations and other civil society organizations.