A team known as the “Saliklakbayers” from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Provincial Science and Technology Office, together with local representatives, the Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development (GRIND) Technical Evaluation Committee, and members of Mindoro State University, recently conducted an immersion across several sites in Mindoro.
This initiative was timed to honor Indigenous Peoples Month, with the goal of exploring and documenting grassroots innovations within indigenous communities, particularly the Mangyan people, to support inclusive development.
The team traveled from San Jose to Mansalay, stopping at the Oriental Mindoro Heritage and Cultural Center to better understand the Mangyan people's contributions to grassroots innovation. Building on theoretical knowledge from prior training, the Saliklakbayers identified innovations like dyeing baskets, the latang pugon (a traditional stove), water hyacinth briquettes, and plant-derived dextrose.
Organized into groups, they conducted focus group discussions to directly engage with local and indigenous innovators, reporting on challenges and potential beneficiaries of these innovations. Core principles guiding the Saliklakbay initiative include openness, optimism, positive deviance, and a people-centered approach. The final stop was Gabutero Organic Farm in Bongabong, where local innovators shared their experiences, highlighting solutions mapping conducted collaboratively with the community.
This immersion highlights a participatory approach to innovation, fostering sustainable practices tailored to local needs and capabilities.
