Davao del Norte Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Datu Marcial Lig-onan successfully pushed for the passage of an ordinance enshrining a province-wide Tipanud Festival every fourth week of October to celebrate, showcase and promote the culture, tradition and products of the seven tribes of the province.
The seven tribes of Davao del Norte are Mansaka, Sama, Dibabawon, Mangguangan, Ata-Manobo, Mandaya and Kalagan.
Tipanud Festival has been celebrated in the province, but it has not been enshrined in provincial legislation until Datu Lig-onan authored it. He got it approved by the Provincial Board in September 18.
The ordinance has funding provision for the provincial government to determine yearly, exclusive of the counterpart of the three cities and eight municipalities of the province.
The Provincial Tribal Council and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives of Davao del Norte shall jointly formulate the implementing guidelines under the supervision of the Office of the Governor.
Datu Lig-onan hails from the Dibabawon tribe from San Isidro town.
He is the second IPMR in the history of the province after Datu Victor Pandian ended his three-year term.
Vice Gov. Alan Dujali administered the oath of office of Datu Lig-onan before members of the Provincial Board in a ceremony preceding the SP maiden session for the year 2017 in January 9, after being endorsed by Gov. Anthony del Rosario for the post.
The 69-year-old Dibabawon Datu is a high-school graduate, and had served as Batangas captain of Gupitan, San Isidro, and is also currently the town’s municipal IPMR.