DILG ILOCOS SUR RECEIVES KABINNULIG TI IP AWARD IN THE AWENG FESTIVAL 2026-REGION I INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SUMMIT

KINNAMAYET (Inter-agency Commitments and Interdependence). The AWENG Festival 2026: Region I Indigenous Peoples Summit brought together Indigenous Peoples from across Region I today, October 8, 2026, at the Barangay Bantay Insik Gymnasium in Sison, Pangasinan. Spearheaded by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples–Region I, in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the gathering carried the theme “Timpuyog para ti Karbengan, Kultura, ken Masakbayan ti Daga a Nainsigudan,” calling for unity in upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights, safeguarding ancestral lands, and passing on indigenous knowledge, traditions, and values to younger generations.

DILG–Ilocos Sur, represented by Provincial Director Randy S. Dela Rosa, CESO V, participated in the summit, affirming its support for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and the preservation of their cultural heritage. During the gathering, the Office received the PAMMADAYAW IPRA 2026 Award and was recognized as “KABINNULIG TI IP,” signifying its partnership with Indigenous Peoples in advancing inclusive and culturally responsive local governance. The festival holds particular significance for Ilocos Sur as a heritage province whose identity is shaped by both Ilokano and Indigenous communities. Their languages, knowledge, traditions, and ways of life constitute a living heritage carried across generations. DILG–Ilocos Sur’s participation affirms its commitment to governance that respects this diversity and gives Indigenous communities a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their lives and future.