NCIP Ethnographic Commissioner for Central Mindanao Bo-i Jennifer Pia “Limpayen” Sibug-Las, together with the Office on Education, Culture, and Health (OECH) Director Mary Grace Buasen, Ms. Cecile Hurtado from the Office on Socio-Economic Services and Special Concerns (OSESSC), and Ms. Liza Marie Abayata, paid a courtesy visit to the Ambassador of South Africa, Her Excellency BN Radebe-Netshitenzhe, on Thursday, 01 September 2022, at the South Africa Embassy, Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

The NCIP team awarded the Certificate of Appreciation to Her Excellency for her invaluable insights, experiences, and expertise shared during the virtual celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples Day and International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples last 09 August 2022 and turned over a set of Project Epanaw’s Three (3) Coffee Table Books (CTBs) and 2020-2021 NCIP Annual Accomplishment Reports (AARs) to the Embassy of South Africa.

OECH Director Buasen and Ms. Hurtado shared the ongoing Education, Culture, and Health projects of the Commission and sought support for fund allocation from the Ambassador to which Her Excellency suggested to send a letter to her office containing the background of IPs, challenges, educational needs, and the level of education of the IPs for possible scholarship grants.