MARIHATAG, Surigao del Sur, Philippines – Highland people, along with their tribal leaders, are set to gather here for a three-day assembly before the weekend in an effort to map out the needs in their respective upland village communities.

Coming from the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Agusan del Norte in Northeastern Mindanao, Compostela Valley (ComVal), and Davao Oriental, the highland villagers are also expected to voice out their immediate needs and concerns to local government unit (LGU) officials who are also expected to grace the important gathering of indigenous peoples (IPs).

Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny T. Pimentel on Wednesday assured the IPs that all the municipal mayors of the said provinces will answer whatever issues of concern that will be brought out during the open forum.

The tribal assembly dubbed the “1st Kahimunan” for the Manobo and “Panagdapog” for the Mandaya, and organized by the Manobo-Mandaya Cultural Communities Alliance (MaManCCA), is set to converge at this town’s Municipal Tree Park from November 11 to 13.

Senate Committee on Cultural Communities Chairperson Senator Loren Legarda and Ifugao Lone District Representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr. are the guests of honor and speakers in this first tribal assembly, while Pimentel will present a corresponding IP Development Agenda.

The assembly with the theme “Unity, A Key Towards Achieving Cultural Integrity” will also focus on the rights and ancestral lands of the IPs and livelihood program of the government for the highland villagers.

During the occasion, Major General Victor A. Felix, commanding general of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division, will also deliver an inspirational message.

In another development, the Caraga Youth Leaders’ Network, Inc. (CYLN, Inc.) will participate in the United Nations’ (UN) Global Compact of the United Nations system.

The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

By doing so, business, as a primary driver of globalization, can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology, and finance could advance in ways that will benefit economies and societies everywhere.

As social, political and economic challenges (and opportunities) affect business, many companies recognize the need to collaborate and partner with governments, civil society, labor, and the United Nations.

This ever-increasing understanding is reflected in the Global Compact’s rapid growth.

With over 8,700 corporate participants and other stakeholders from over 130 countries, it is the largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative in the world.

Rex Ybanez, chief executive officer and chairperson of the CYLN, expressed his gratitude to the UN system headed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for the positive response on CYLN’s application to the United Nations Global Compact after a meticulous process of screening.

The CYLN is a non-government organization (NGO) based in the Caraga Region that aims to advance the Caraganon youth development affairs.

It was learned that this is one of the purposes of the CYLN in an effort to aim high for the benefits of the Caraganon youths towards a better Caraga Region.