BAGUIO CITY — A Cordillera indigenous leader called for greater government support and a stronger role for Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in watershed protection, climate action, and disaster risk reduction, saying communities that have long safeguarded ancestral lands are being sidelined.

Barangay Pacdal Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Marilyn Tongawan made the appeal Wednesday during the two-day Sagana 2026 seminar, themed "Governing Risk in the Cordillera: Integrating Ancestral Knowledge with Inclusive Institutions for Sustainable Resilience."

Tongawan said IP communities should reclaim their role as environmental stewards while urging government agencies to provide genuine authority and funding for IP-led environmental programs.

She raised concerns over the management of the Busol Watershed, a major water source partly located in Barangay Pacdal, questioning whether the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is giving indigenous communities a meaningful role in its protection.

"Are we even given the right? Are we even given the privilege to restore our watersheds?" Tongawan said, adding that while government agencies cite Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), IPs are often not prioritized in decision-making.

Tongawan also stressed the need for stronger support for barangay disaster response volunteers, saying passion alone is not enough without personal protective equipment, insurance, and adequate funding.

"Many are willing to help, but will you ask them to volunteer while they are starving?" she said, calling on the Department of Budget and Management to allocate funds for IP-led initiatives.

She also lamented the gradual loss of indigenous identity among younger generations, saying many identify only as "Igorot" without knowing their specific ethnicity.

"As parents, we are the grassroots. We should identify our own ethnicity," she said, warning that the erosion of cultural identity also weakens traditional environmental stewardship.

Tongawan added that customary indigenous laws are being overshadowed by state systems and challenged fellow IPs to take the initiative in advancing their own programs.

"It is our privilege to join. Let's take the initiative because we have been here since time immemorial," she said. "It's time for our voices to be heard, and it's time for us to change."