“Uwoy Gayang” and the Indigenous Populations Collaborative Effort against Covid 19 Pandemic: A Case Study of the Naneng Heritage Village

Abstract

This case study sought to discover the collaborative efforts developed/ implemented by the local officials and tribal leaders, of Brgy. Naneng, Tabuk City, Kalinga in their COVID-19 prevention and containment program. In response to COVID-19, Barangay Naneng, Tabuk CIty, sealed off community access to non-residents and require 14-day quarantine for any returning residents who left the community and enacted more severe self-imposed travel restrictions, including the banning of all visitors and denial of return access to residents leaving temporarily. The panglakayans however were not able to contribute very much in the implementation and execution of some programs because they were no longer allowed to go out after the lockdown on March 16, 2020 was implemented except for their strong advise to practice an indigenous tradition called “ Uwoy Gayang”. 6 months after the lockdown on March 16, 2020 Naneng remains to be Covid Free.It is found that the indigenous people of Brgy. Naneng Tabuk City simply followed the prescribed protocols, implemented lockdown and observed the quarantine period for returning resident. They however added an indigenous way of dealing with Covid19 which is the Uwwoy Gayang which is not scientifically proven but is believed to increase their resiliency.