Cong. Eric Go Yap Benguet Caretaker Congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list strongly condemned photos circulating online discriminating the Igorot.
He can’t believable that these made its way to the learning modules of the students
The dismayed lawmaker said that this is an insult and an obvious form of discrimination and a mockery of the rich culture in the Cordillera regardless of its form and context whether it forms part of a textbook, a module or a test sheet.
“What message are we sending our students reading these? Okay lang na ma-bully ang bata dahil sa kanyang anyo? Okay lang ma-discriminate dahil sa kasuotan? Sa murang edad ng mga estudyante, ito ang ituturo natin? If we do not act on this, the day will come that our heritage and culture in Cordillera will die a natural death because it will be perceived as something that should be ashamed of. We will not allow that to happen.” The enraged caretaker said.
Cong. Yap called on the Department of Education to undertake a massive review of its textbooks and other materials used in schools.
He urged Secretary Leonor Briones to issue a Department Order instructing teachers nationwide to forbid them from using discriminatory statements such as those shown in photos in preparing their modules.
Yap pointed out that this is not the first time that this happened and at this point, the Department should take responsibility.
“This is an issue that we will definitely raise in Congress through a House Resolution that I will file and we will summon DEPED officials to shed light on this matter, not only for this incident, but for every inaccuracy and sign of incompetence in our learning materials.” Yap reiterated.. By Joe M.