North Cotabato, Philippines – The movement to introduce innovative governance in the Province of North Cotabato gained significant momentum yesterday, as former Governor Nancy A. Catamco publicly declared her full support. Catamco, a former three-term Representative of the province’s 2nd District and a leader of the Manobo/Bagobo Tribe, became the second major political figure in the province to endorse the gubernatorial bid of a candidate promising transformative governance.
The young Mayor of Kidapawan City, lawyer Paolo Evangelista, was the first to announce his all-out support, releasing a public statement immediately after the gubernatorial candidate filed their certificate of candidacy. Catamco’s endorsement marks another critical step in consolidating the support of key local leaders behind the movement for progressive governance.
During a dinner meeting last night, the gubernatorial candidate reassured Catamco that their top priority, if elected, would be to uplift the province’s tribal communities from poverty and address long-standing government neglect. “Our agenda will focus on providing the tribal communities with the resources and support they need to break free from poverty. This advocacy began when I was Governor of Cotabato, and it will continue if we succeed in leading the province,” the candidate said.
As a former governor herself, Catamco has long been an advocate for indigenous peoples’ rights and welfare, particularly those of her own Manobo/Bagobo Tribe. Her alignment with the movement signals strong backing from the tribal communities, a key demographic in North Cotabato, and adds to the growing call for more inclusive and innovative leadership in the province.
The candidate’s commitment to the tribal communities is rooted in their earlier efforts to empower indigenous peoples. As Governor of North Cotabato, they helped establish the Cotabato Tribal Elders, an organization that gave tribal leaders a direct voice in provincial governance. Later, as Secretary of Agriculture under President Rodrigo Duterte, the candidate issued an administrative order creating the Office for Indigenous People’s Concerns within the Department of Agriculture.
In 2018, the candidate introduced the national program “Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo” (4K Program), which remains one of the Department of Agriculture’s flagship initiatives. The 4K Program focuses on improving the economic conditions of tribal communities by providing targeted interventions based on the specific needs of each community. Paired with the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) initiative, another project they designed, the 4K Program aims to maximize the productivity of vast tribal lands that have long been underutilized.
The candidate emphasized that their long-standing advocacy for the development of tribal communities will continue if they succeed in winning the governorship. “With God’s grace, this advocacy will go on. Our goal is to not only address the immediate needs of the indigenous peoples but to ensure that their lands are productive and their livelihoods sustainable,” they said.
With the support of influential leaders like former Governor Catamco and Mayor Evangelista, the movement for innovative governance is gaining momentum, offering the promise of inclusive development and progress for all residents of North Cotabato, particularly its often-overlooked tribal communities.
