IRIGA CITY: Free food, two sacks of rice and P2,000 cash gift were given to 29 couples belonging to the Unurugan tribe who tied the knot on February 14, Valentine's Day, here.

The mass civil wedding for the Indigenous People (IP) was held at RAV's Farm owned by Clito Ravago in Santo Domingo village and officiated by Iriga City Mayor Wilfredo "Rex" Oliva.

During the wedding ceremony, Oliva told the husbands to respect and show genuine love to their wives and become good providers and responsible fathers.

"Don't put your wife into a disadvantageous situation. Love them unconditionally. Never hurt or abuse them physically. Provide their needs and your children. I don't want to know that you're abusing or hurting your wife because you will be dealt with the law," Oliva said.

"We, in the LGU Iriga, will not tolerate any abuse of women. We are here to support your community under our battle cry Uda mawatak, uda matagak (Nobody gets left behind). You will be given two sacks of rice provided that you bring it with you."

Oliva said that the city government will provide one sack of rice, P1,000 cash gift including free food as wedding gifts to the couples.

Aside from city government cash and rice assistance, the couples received another sack of rice and P1,000 cash gift from Camarines Sur 5th District Rep. Miguel Villafuerte and Gov. Luigi Villafuerte.

Oliva said the local government will also help them facilitate their documents at the city registrar's office.

The mass wedding was requested by Unurugan tribe chieftain Raquel Cesno in a bid to register the couples and their children at city hall local registrar's office.

Cesno said that the majority of IPs have no marriage certificates and their children have no birth certificates.

"It is my dream that my community will be registered at local registrar's office so that they can avail the government's program like the 4Ps, and for children to be able to enroll and go to school once registered. This is our problem in the tribe because many children without birth certificate. They are not accepted to school due to absence of birth certificate," Cesno said.

"Many stopped schooling because they don't have birth certificate, so I asked barangay certification for their late birth certificate. We are happy that Mayor Rex Oliva is helping us through the local civil registry office to register the IPs. Luckily, on February 23, we will have a late registration for the tribe and senior citizens including non-tribe at Irmreeiiga South central school," she added.

The Unurugan tribe in Santo Domingo village in Iriga City is composed of 75 families with a population of 356.