The Department of Education in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) started this school year a program aimed to inculcate among learners how to innovate on cultural practices and traditions.

The Research, Innovation and Scientific Exploration (RISE) program being implemented with the Indigenous Peoples Education will have students in all levels conducting researches on cultures and practices, according to Asterio Madalla, Education Program Supervisor of the Curriculum and Learning Management Division of DepEd-CAR, during a media interview on Monday.

Madalla explained the concept by associating it with farming, where farmers need to grow food but they cannot be contented with using the carabao to plow and must use new technologies to cope with the demand.

He also talked about the “sangi” and “takba” or the native backpacks used by their forefathers and are still produced by some to this day.

“Maybe we can improve to make them more functional and appreciated in the present,” he said.

“We want them to think global but do local and make the past more realistic and functional. In that way, jobs can also be created,” he added.

Madalla said researches will concentrate on IP education to make the learnings more practical.

To encourage students, there will be a RISE competition in November.

“In the Cordillera, there are many innovations being done but they need to be documented and registered to prevent them from being copied. That is why we have a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology that will help us on this aspect,” he added. (PNA)