UP Kalilayan, a provincial organization of Quezonian and Aurorahin youth in UP Diliman, is taking a step further in forwarding its advocacies — reaching more communities and amplifying the struggles of national minorities.
With the title “TAIB-HIBAS: A Community Outreach for the Dumagat Fisherfolks of Brgy. Dibut San Luis, Aurora,” this year’s iteration of UP Kalilayan’s Neil Eria Educational Discussion Series (NEEDS) is a one-day program that consists of educational discussion, leadership workshop, and community immersion activities with the Dumagats of Aurora, which will take place on May 10, 2026.
As part of the project, start-up capital in the form of fishing equipment will be provided to the group. This aims to establish a store of fishing equipment to be sustained by the Dumagat tribe council, intended to support the community’s main source of livelihood in the long run.
In line with this, the educational discussion for the Dumagat fisherfolk will focus on financial management to equip them with skills for sustainable management of business and livelihood. Also, the workshop for the Dumagat youth will be conducted simultaneously, which will emphasize the role of youth participation and the importance of stepping up to drive community initiatives, ensuring the project’s sustainability.
These activities were designed after mapping out the challenges faced by the Dumagat fisherfolk of Brgy. Dibut, such as the limited access to fishing materials due to the community’s distance from the market and the high cost when purchased from other suppliers. This poses difficulty in sustaining the daily lives of the Dumagats, who are heavily dependent on fishing.
According to Ino Maxino, one of the NEEDS co-heads, the Dumagat community of Aurora was chosen as the target beneficiary for this year to recognize the important role of fisherfolk in society and advocate for the rights of national minorities, including them.
“Una, dahil sa nakaraang iterasyon ng proyektong ito ay nakatuon tayo sa mga magsasaka, ngayong taon ay nais naming bigyang-halaga naman ang mga mangingisda. Lalo na sa gitna ng mga nagdaang bagyo at krisis sa petrolyo, kinikilala namin ang kahalagahan ng pagtugon sa tunay na pangangailangan ng ating mga kapatid na mangingisdang Dumagat,” Maxino said.
The co-head added that the project also aims to amplify the call for government agencies, such as the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to better serve the marginalized sectors of the country.
“Hindi sapat na kinikilala lamang sa papel ang karapatan ng mga pambansang minorya; higit na mahalaga ang henwinong pakikinig sa kanilang tunay na daing, ang pagrespeto sa kanilang lupang ninuno at kabuhayan, at ang pagbibigay ng mga konkretong tugon na tunay na makatutulong sa kanilang komunidad,” Maxino underscored.
UP Kalilayan’s NEEDS 2026 highlights the importance of recognizing the communities whose voices are often neglected, and pushing efforts that promote genuine development that leaves no one behind.
In support of the Dumagat community, UP Kalilayan is humbly reaching out to seek help from sponsors and donors through its Piso Mula sa Puso campaign, a donation drive to raise funds for the project. For inquiries and donations, interested individuals and groups may also reach out through the [email protected] (email) or its official Facebook page Neil Eria Educational Discussion Series.