English - Balay Mindanaw

LUMADNONG PAGKINABUHI NGADTO SA KALINAWin Sitio Mimpakiki. The population drastically increasedbecause of the presence of a school.”Tatay Malindahay reported that some Dumagats acquiredlands in Kalipay through direct purchase, while the others weregiven a parcel of land by their Higaunon relatives by virtueof marriage. Because the place was classified as timberland,Tatay Malindahay noted that they were not given land titlesbut they had permission from the mayor of Gingoog Cityto occupy the place. Most of the areas in Barangay Kalipayare under the Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP) andCommunity-Based Forest Management (CBFM). The releasedarea, which is no longer considered as public land, was onlyup to the crossing of Barangay Kamanikan, Gingoog City,said Tatay Malindahay.With respect to the residential areas, Tatay Malindahaysaid the Dumagats were allowed to build houses along theroad within the barangay proper, but they could not own theland.“We made a written contract with the residents. While wehad no doubts they’ll abide by our agreement, we’re not sureif their children would, so better have it in writing. None of theresidential lots starting from Purok 1 to Purok 5 had been givento anybody yet. My brother noted that the land in this barangaywas still communal. Our tribe was worried that should we startgiving the land to the residents, they may eventually sell theland, and us Higaunons may be driven away.”His brother, Estoriano Malindahay, the barangay captainof Kalipay, authored the concept of not selling the residentialareas for private ownership because they were afraid that whathappened to Barangay Bal-ason in Gingoog City would alsohappen in Kalipay. Tatay Malindahay said that all the lands inBal-ason were previously owned by Higaunons. But becausethey sold their lands, they were displaced and now most of the74