Indigenous Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic 63 would be nearer to their source of staples such as root crops, among others. Where food security is a major concern of the national government in the lowlands, the Ayta Mag-indi are confident that they will never go hungry in the land of their ancestors. Apart from food security, they also believe that the mountains are a safer place for anyone, having still the luscious forest growth which serve as barrier to any form of viral or bacterial infection. They believe that the leaves of the trees in these forests absorb the harmful elements even before they get in contact with humans.