Davao del Norte: One Ata-Manobo indigenous peoples (IP) family of seven members from Haran in Davao City arrived in the Municipality of Talaingod, Thursday (June 4) morning.
Talaingod Municipal Social Worker Arlane Batua confirmed to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) XI-Davao del Norte the arrival this morning of the “Ompong” family received by Talaingod Tribal Council official Datu Lomansad Sibogan, at a poblacion area in Barangay Sto. Nino.
Batua said Talaingod Mayor Jonnie Libayao sent Sibogan to receive the family, on his behalf.
Based on initial inquiry, Batua said the family was with a 6-month old baby, a 2-year old toddler, and two other children who seemingly were six and eight years of age. Other members of the family seen at the receiving site was an elderly of about 60 years of age, and the Ompong family couple.
Batua confided with PIA XI of having yet to fully conduct inquiry with the couple because all members of the family are being subjected to monitoring as they are considered persons under monitoring (PUMs) “though they have a Barangay Certificate saying they are not PUMs nor persons under investigation (PUIs).”
“Mao man gud na ang protocol diri nga i-quarantine jud sila. (That is the protocol here that they be placed under quarantine),” she said referring to the policy of Talaingod Municipal Inter-agency Task Force on COVID-19.
Basing on a photographed copy, Batua said a Barangay Certificate was issued by Barangay 8-A of Madapo Hills in Davao City where Haran is located.
The family intends to go back to their community in Sitio Dulyan but Batua said the quarantine period is a must for them to undergo as a protocol laid down to prevent spread of COVID-19 infection.
“Gi-deritso sila sa quarantine area. (They were directly taken to a quarantine site)” Batua said while also telling that the Ompong family members were handled by the Municipal Health Office of Talaingod after they were received by Datu Sibogan.
Batua said the Ompong Family reportedly was the first to come out of Haran after the reported death of two babies in mid-May allegedly due to health and hygiene problems in Haran where some hundreds of IPs reportedly are still being held. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)
