Disseminating the resource management system of the Tingguians (lapat) through instructional modules [in Abra, Philippines]

This study described the 'Lapat' system (Tingguian Resource Management System), documented its rituals and practices, analyzed its enabling factors and developed instructional materials from data gathered. Key informants were purposively identified from among the council of elders, 'Lapat' officers, religious sector, ASIST Tingguian students, women, politicians, professionals, community folk, and government and non-government organizations. Data were gathered through interview schedule, focus group discussions (FGD) and informal meetings with key informants and FGD discussants. The collected data were further confirmed by participant observation, site visits and walk through. Results showed that the 'Lapat' System protects and sustains the forest, fresh water resources, and environment for the present and future generations of Tingguians. The Council of Elders and 'Lapat' officers manage all the activities of 'Lapat' and enforce laws of the community by banning the harvest of dwindling forest products. The ban is lifted when forest products are replenished. The 'Lapat' System is embedded in the Tingguian culture. It involves prayer petitions (bagawas), information dissemination (palek), traditional oath (sapata) and fact finding ritual (duo). During the sealing of 'lapat' agreements, the whole community celebrates through traditional songs (salidummay), ethnic dance (tadek) and chants (oggayam), and a community luncheon highlights this events. Implementing the 'lapat' system entails problems such as smuggling of timber and non-timber products, population pressure, conflicting traditional and government laws on forestry and mining, kaingin, insurgency, boundary disputes, and weakening of cultural values. But generally, 'Lapat' has enabling factors. It is indigenous and utilizes bottom-up and participative approaches with local communities, GO, NGO and religious groups, particularly the Roman Catholic Church, through its Apostolate on Integrity of Creation. It is also supported by the government through the IPRA law. With the gathered information, instructional modules have been developed for use in the social science subjects and have been integrated in the education, agriculture and forestry courses of Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST). ASIST provides a curriculum which is truly Filipino by developing modular instructional materials authored by a local author.