Indigenous knowledge systems are critical to achieving sustainable and inclusive development, according to studies presented at a knowledge-sharing forum organized by the Socioeconomic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P) of the òòò½´«Ã½ (òòò½´«Ã½) on March 11.
In collaboration with Bukidnon State University (BukSU) and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), the event brought together researchers and academic leaders to examine how indigenous knowledge informs policy implementation, economic development, cultural preservation, and community resilience.
At the policy level, òòò½´«Ã½ Senior Research Fellow Dr. Sonny Domingo warned that gaps in implementing the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act and its expanded version are weakening efforts to protect the country’s remaining forests—areas that serve as natural buffers against disasters and sources of livelihood.
His evaluation of sites such as Mount Mantalingahan, Northern Negros Natural Park, and Masungi Georeserve found that weak enforcement and limited technical capacity continue to undermine conservation efforts.
Notably, the study found that some protected areas are losing more forest cover than unprotected areas, putting ecosystems meant to reduce flooding and landslides at risk.
He also noted that many of these areas overlap with ancestral domains, where Indigenous communities have long practiced sustainable forest management—highlighting the need to strengthen both enforcement and community-based approaches.
“We have provisions within legislation, but in the end, it's all about us enforcing and making them accountable in terms of all those breaches of those provisions,” Domingo emphasized.
Beyond policy, the forum also showcased how Indigenous communities are advancing sustainable development.
BukSU Professor Loreta Sol L. Dinlayan presented a study on Bukidnon Tagoloanon Mulahay Ha Kabukalagan Agricultural Cooperative (BUKTAMACO), showing how economic initiatives can thrive when anchored in indigenous values and governance.
“The cooperative aims to develop an ancestral domain through sustainable programs that uplift the Bukidnon-Tagoloanon indigenous community's economic condition,” she said.
The model integrates formal cooperative systems with customary decision-making, ensuring that development initiatives remain both economically viable and culturally rooted.
Dinlayan also proposed recognizing Indigenous practices as a “fifth pillar” of sustainability alongside economic, social, environmental, and human dimensions.
Sustainability, researchers noted, is not only economic or environmental but also deeply cultural.
BukSU professor Dr. Judith Singcolan presented findings on the Kahusayan Hu Lidu, a ritual practiced by the Talaandig Tribe in Lantapan, Bukidnon, which serves as a mechanism for conflict resolution and community harmony.
“Through the continued performance of this ritual, elders and cultural leaders actively encourage younger members to understand, respect, and preserve the cultural heritage of the Talaandig people,” she said.
However, researchers warned that such practices are at risk of decline amid limited support for cultural transmission.
PUP Professor Ms. Werlie Bueno noted a decrease in traditional practices among the Iraya Mangyan, including storytelling, rituals, and festivals.
“Although elders are willing to teach, there are few institutional or community structures that support cultural learning,” Bueno said.
“By supporting elders in leading cultural preservation initiatives, cultural revitalization can be community-driven and sustainable,” she added, citing the role of school-based programs, community workshops, and active engagement.
Extending these insights beyond cultural communities, PUP Professor Diosdado Franco highlighted how Indigenous practices—such as diversified livelihoods, collective governance, and environmental stewardship—can inform urban sustainability and disaster-resilience strategies.
“We take only what is needed because the poorest also need to live for our children,” Franco noted, illustrating the community’s ethical approach to resource management.
His study recommends integrating Indigenous knowledge into urban planning and fostering partnerships that empower Indigenous-led solutions.
The discussions pointed to a common thread: solutions to today’s environmental and development challenges may already exist within communities that have long managed these ecosystems.
For the chieftain and baylan of the Bukidnon cultural community, Hon. Adelina Tarino, also known as Bae Inatlawan, indigenous knowledge remains central to environmental stewardship.
“Indigenous practices are not learned from schools or books but are passed down from ancestors,” she said.
“By observing the wind, the clouds, and the stars, we know when it will rain, when to plant, and when danger may come.”
Watch the recording of the forum at . ### — RTG
