Legarda Lauds SUCs in Cordillera for Indigenous Knowledge Documentation

Senator Loren Legarda lauded the schools and universities in the Cordillera Region for their work in documenting the region’s indigenous knowledge on agriculture and forest conservation systems.

During her recent visit to the Province of Ifugao, Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Cultural Communities, Environment and Natural Resources, and Climate Change, led the launch of the coffee table book titled Guardians of the Forest, Stewards of the Land.

The project is a joint undertaking of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, the Cordillera Administrative Region Association of State Universities and Colleges (CARASUC), the State Universities and Colleges of the Cordillera Administrative Region Research, Development and Extension Consortium (SUCCARRDEC), and the Cordillera Indigenous Knowledge Network (CordIKnowN).

“This coffee table book made by SUCs in the Cordillera region is an impressive work that gives tribute to the forefathers of the Cordillerans who were true models of sustainability. The people of Cordillera are determined to preserve their cultural heritage and celebrate their ancestry and this was manifested through this publication,” Legarda said.

The Cordillera Region is home to a number of indigenous forest conservation systems, like the muyung in Ifugao,batangan in Mountain Province, imong in Kalinga, chontog in Benguet, and lapat in Abra and Apayao. These forest management practices are farming systems made distinct by the traditions of each indigenous community and exemplify the values that these culture-bearers keep.

“This book is a cultural treasure we can all be proud of and I hope that this would inspire other regions and provinces to document their own traditional knowledge so that we are able to continuously preserve our priceless heritage,” said Legarda.