CORDILLERANS are heading the call to protect indigenous languages.
Lawyer Roland Calde, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Cordillera director, said a statement of support has been signed recognizing Indigenous People's (IP) languages able to preserve the community's history, custom and tradition.
In celebration of the United Nations declaration of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, on February 28 at the Benguet State University (BSU) Strawberry Hall, line agencies, different institutions, heads of universities spearheaded the statement and signing of commitment.
"There is a threat on our Indigenous Languages, I have seen some, and words are already supplemented by the national words or other languages, it is a good thing that we are bringing awareness not only the academe but agencies concern," Calde said.
Calde said there is a threat in the Indigenous Languages and highlighted its importance to be transferred to the next generation.
In 2018, the Regional Development Council inked a memorandum of understanding together with various line agencies, academe, and civil society organizations to come up with Cordillera Indigenous Ethnographic Manual which entails researches, documentations about IP Languages and Indigenous Knowledge and Practices.
Guest Speaker and IP Rights Advocate Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Ronald Adamat said expressed support for activities in the Cordillera region for the International Year of Indigenous Languages [IYIL].
"If our language, culture are dying and therefore we are also losing our identity."
The IYIL seeks to help in promoting and protecting Indigenous Languages and improve the lives of those who speak them. The celebration is also expected to strengthen and reinforce the many-standard-setting tools adopted by their international community which include specific provisions to promote and protect languages.
In the Cordillera, activities span from February to December held in various agencies like the Cordillera Career Development College, King's College of the Philippines, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, BSU, Department of Education, Saint Louis University, Apayao State College.
