TBOLI, South Cotabato — The municipal government of Tboli and Tboli National High School signed a memorandum of agreement on Oct. 26 to establish and operate a Cultural Heritage Learning Center dedicated to preserving indigenous traditions and integrating local heritage into formal education.
Held at the school gymnasium in Barangay Poblacion, the ceremony formalized municipal backing for the school's Indigenous Peoples Education program as it undergoes final evaluation for regional accreditation by the Department of Education.
Under the agreement, the local government will allocate funding through the municipal Special Education Fund and contract community personnel as job-order instructors to teach Tboli cultural practices and traditional knowledge systems.
Mayor Keo Dayle Tuan committed municipal resources for the center’s operations, noting that the initiative aims to serve as a model for culturally responsive education across other schools in the province.
School Principal Gil Tongcaling said the facility provides a dedicated space to embed Tboli customs, craftsmanship, and native language systems directly into student coursework, ensuring indigenous heritage is passed down to younger generations.
Program details and legal provisions were presented during the event by Community Affairs Officer and Special Education Fund Coordinator Mizpah Sunshine Ming, alongside IPED Coordinator Christmae Tangcala and Assistant Principal Dominador Soliterio.
The signing was attended by local Tboli cultural masters, Barangay Poblacion Chairperson Kaine Abelardo Serofia, Tboli West District Supervisor Marvin Villahermosa, parent-teacher association officers, and student representatives.
Following the formal agreement, the school will prepare instructional facilities and finalize curriculum modules ahead of the regional evaluation.
(Photo courtesy of Municipality of Tboli)
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