SP accredits Samdhana Institute to LSB

Through a resolution, the 20th City Council, on its regular session yesterday presided over by Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez, accredited the Samdhana Institute, Inc. for purposes of its membership in the local special bodies pursuant to DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2022-083 and Article 64, Rule XIII of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the 1991 Local Government Code or funding its project from the City or other sources. Organized on November 6, 2003, Samdhana Institute, Inc. has an office address at 91 Tomas Saco St., Nazareth.

The word Samdhana was taken from the Sanskrit word for healing, unity and peace. It was formed and organized by a group of conservationists and development experts, the first generation of Samdhana Fellows, who catalyzed networks of shared knowledge and traditional wisdom.

Today, it continues its work of giving back, working to empower Indigenous peoples and local communities, the women, youth, and persons with different abilities.

It envisions a region where natural, cultural and spiritual diversity are valued, where communities have control over their territories and well-being.

It also seeks for communities to have land rights for their territories and full recourse to the rule of law; through a combination of independent leadership and organizational support, they will be responsible for their own development and well-being.

Among the services which the organization can provide or may engage includes capital development, small grants funding, proposal development, community organizing and networking.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on planning, research and innovation and people’s organization accreditation and on laws and rules, both chaired by Councilor Ian Mark Q. Nacaya.