GITIB, INC.A Resource Center for Sustainable Development

PROFILE & HISTORY

GITIB, Inc. was officially registered as a non-stock, non-profit and non-governmental organization on October 2001 to support the many exceptional efforts of indigenous peoples and marginalized communities, to bring improvement in their lives, families, environment and communities.

The driving force behind the establishment and existence of GITIB are the struggles of the indigenous people for survival, continuing marginalization, exploitation, and loss of culture and tradition in Northwestern Mindanao and the Philippines in general. Yet, parallel to these struggles is the rapidly deteriorating ecological balance caused by neglect, unsustainable resource utilization practices, abuse and pressure from outside users pose great threat to the life and existence of indigenous and local communities that we seek to serve.

GITIB, Inc. has established track of experience in providing alternative ecology and culture education to Indigenous Peoples and Non-Indigenous Peoples, trainings and awareness campaign on environment and sustainable development, policy advocacy, relief and rehabilitation programs and linkages with different foreign agencies, national and local NGOs, LGUs and institutions. GITIB draws its strengths from its solid experience on alternative education, advocacy, community development, environmental management, and grassroots organizing. Most of its members are former staff members of various local NGOs with at least ten (10) years who made significant progress in their respective fields of expertise.

GITIB, Inc. is affiliated to a number of linkages and networks; Philippine Education Theater Arts-Children Theater Program (PETA-CTP) for theater, Mindanao Action Group for Child Rights and Protection (MAGCRP), NGO-Impact on Development, Empowerment and Actions (NGO-IDEAs) for participatory impact monitoring, Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT), Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), DIOPIM Committee on Mining Issues (DCMI), KALITAWHAN Working Group on Biodiversity, Mt. Malindang Protected Area Management Board and Mindanao Lumad Educators Forum.

VISION MISSION GOALS (VMG)

VIS

ION

GITIB envisions a developing community

based on the human and children’s rights

and taking into account the environment as

basic right for development and existence

of the children and the humankind in

general. GITIB affirms that humans are

integral part of the web of life that are

conscious of their dependence upon the

natural world and are working for healthy

and sustainable habitat.

MIS

SIO

N

GITIB is committed to work with the

various people, the Moro, Lumad and

Christian settlers initially in Mindanao in

order to develop a sustainable lifestyle,

promote and protect human and

children’s rights; defend, conserve and

rehabilitate Mindanao’s vanishing

natural habitat.

GO

ALS

AN

D P

RO

GR

AM

S

To adopt the process of formulating goals and programs which includes assessment and strategic planning.

GOALSOver the next ten (10) years, GITIB Inc. engenders to:Become a widely recognized resource center for

ecological alternative education and RDPI (Research, Documentation, Publication & Information, Research, Development Information knowledge-based) in Northwestern Mindanao.

Have established integrated Area Development projects within three (3) areas (or Municipalities) in Northwestern Mindanao as models of community empowerment and sustainable development.

Become self-reliant, having the human, material and financial resources to support its administration.

Have actively participated in the campaigns and in the lobbying of environmental issues, laws and policies in Northwestern Mindanao.

Have designed, set-up and sustained a comprehensive education program that caters the need of the indigenous people of Northwestern Mindanao supported by an established Subanen Heritage School.

PROGRAMS

Awareness Building for Sustainable Development Program

The environment demands for immediate protection, conservation and rehabilitation. The unending environmental exploitation like ongoing deforestation, unsustainable farming methods, extreme extraction of river and sea resources by destructive means, increasing water and air pollutions by smoke and smug, production of immense waste and ozone depletion threaten the environment and the lives of all life forms. This program specializes on the conducting of seminars, workshops, fora, group discussions and many other means of popular education on ecology, health and sustainable development. A research and publication component will be conceptualized to provide data for the education and advocacy.

Oases Building

Today’s development is bearing aggression and unsustainable in general. So, this program caters sustainable development through serving small communities with special focus on sustainable integrated area development projects which will be strategized and implemented as a model for its sustainable development framework. This includes sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, community health development, setting the foundation for a sustainable rural enterprises and rural industries, gender relations, community organizing, livelihood enhancement and food self-sufficiency. This program enables the community to contribute effectively in the task of protecting and conserving the natural ecosystems and at the same time enhancing their livelihood and enterprise livelihood.

 

Advocacy Works

Advocacy efforts on policies regarding environmental and alternative education issues to the local and national government will be the focus of this program. The program will assist the advocates in the campaigns through symposia, fora, mass mobilizations and lobbying. The program aims to create theater and arts groups and task forces that will spearhead action for environmental protection and conservation.

 

Indigenous People’s Education Program

  It is about 25% of Indigenous Peoples in Northwestern Mindanao continually marginalized because of the introduction of mainstream education without safeguarding their culture and tradition. Christian settlers or lowlanders considered their culture and tradition as fanatics and superstitious. The Indigenous People Tribes broken into pieces and to the extent forgetting their identity. Consequently, the general objective of the program is to establish and operationalized Alternative Education among Indigenous People of Northern Mindanao with tailored-fit alternative and culture base curriculum as a process of attaining their struggle for self-determination. The empowerment of the Indigenous people assures the people’s participation in environmental protection, against bio-diversity piracy and other efforts for sustainable development.

 

PAST & ONGOING PROJECTS

 EEAD -

ECOLOGY EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

This project was being assisted by Terres Des Hommes (TDH) and implemented successfully. This project ended last March 2011.

Ecological Awareness and Capability Building Component – This component launch trainings and seminars on ecology awareness and organizational and skills development for parents and community members.

Cultural and Ecological Values Education through Theater and Arts – it develops the cultural and artistic skills of children through trainings and launched cultural productions relaying historical and environmental messages.

Livelihood Component – developing alternative livelihood scheme for community members.

MAGCRP - Mindanao Action Group for Children's Rights and ProtectionThis is a network of a Non-Government Organizations in four (4) major cities of Mindanao, namely Davao, General Santos, Ozamiz and Zamboanga that is working together to full the rights of children and young people. Presently, it is spearheading the campaign to end all forms of violence against children (VAC) particularly on corporal punishment and advocacy on UNCRC and its monitoring and reporting process. This is funded and supported by Save the Children

CAIRD-Community Action for the Integrated Rural Development

This project aims to contribute for the creation of the condition for sustainable development within the three (3) integrated rural communities in Ozamiz City. ( Brgy. Capucao Proper, Trigos and Guingona ). This is supported and funded by Miserior.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

REV. DIOSDADO E. MARQUEZHON. LUDIE G. MONTEMOR

HON. JULIETA D. SAGARIO RICO C. ABARCO

President Vice President

Secretary Treasurer

ARTHUR A. ACA-AC ROLDAN R. GONZALES

HON. JOVENCITO GALLETO FR. RIOLITO R. RAMOS

Auditor Ex-Officio Member

Member Member

OFFICERS AND STAFF

NAOME O. MEDINAAdmin/Finance

Officer

ROLDAN R. GONZALES Executive Director

RIC VINCENT M. DUMAOG Bookkeeper

ANILYN T. ESTREBILLO Secretary/Cahier

LEONY A. DIMAANO Admin Staff

ALLAN C. RAMIREZPolicy Advocacy

Officer

NILO B. TABUDLONG Project Coordinator

NORMA M. ESLIT Community

Development Staff

JANICE B. NARONA Agriculturist

JOVENCIO P. LARANJO Project Staff