Kalinga pushes to teach 'bodong' peace pact in schools

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The provincial board has approved a measure requesting the inclusion of Kalinga’s traditional “bodong” peace pact system in the formal curriculum of learners and tertiary students, aiming to instill the value of cultural unity and indigenous dispute resolution among youth.

The bodong system is Kalinga’s longstanding peace pact mechanism that maintains peace and harmony among the sub-tribes of the Kalinga people. Historically, sub-tribes engaged in conflict but resolved hostilities through bodong agreements — pacts that remain binding up to the present. Some tribes continue to negotiate peace as they seek to settle disputes and rebuild inter-community relations.

Beyond conflict resolution, the bodong establishes and upholds customary laws governing vital areas such as resource access, trade, and inter-community relations. It has long served as a foundation of unity, stability, and mutual respect among tribes.

Similar peace pact mechanisms exist across other Cordillera indigenous communities under different names.

The resolution recognizes the bodong system not only as part of Kalinga tradition but as a functioning peace mechanism rooted in customary law. The provincial board stressed that formal instruction will help preserve its cultural, legal, and social significance.

The Committee on Rules and Ethics referenced the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, which mandates the preservation, protection, and promotion of indigenous knowledge, practices, and customary laws — including the bodong.

The measure also states that integrating the bodong into the curricula of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) aligns with national directives on culture-based education, contextualized learning, peace education, and local history. DepEd and CHED already have policies allowing the integration of local heritage into instructional materials and course content, particularly in social studies, Philippine history, and indigenous studies.