Dr Juanito Pio L. Lledo

Juanito is the Tribal Chieftan of the Tribal Council of Calacuit, and is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). In 1986 he empowered the displaced Indigenous Peoples (IP) of Calauit Island, beginning the longest legal battle in the Philippines. Juanito has further filed claims at the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), for the recognition of the rights of the Indigenous people of Calacuit to their ancestral land, and is actively involved in the conservation and preservation of natural resources and tribal cultures, traditions and practices. He also provides relief clothes and food, and provides mobilized rescue operations to Indigenous people in times of danger in his local province. Juanito is trained in Artificial Insemination in swine and cattle, animal disease and epidemiology, as well as team building and leadership training. He has further completed training in effective radio broadcasting and media practice. Juanito looks forward to participating in the course as a way to increase his ability to identify problems for the Indigenous community, as well as to learn from the experiences of other participants.