MIADP-10 strengthens support for ancestral domain development  in Bukidnon

 

VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON — Aiming to lay the groundwork intended for services to eligible Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) or Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10), through its Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), staged a community assembly on November 12 at the Council of Elders of Bukidnon Tribal Association, Inc. Ancestral Domain (CEBUKTA AD), Sitio Olanga, Brgy. Lourdes, here.

The said information and education campaign aims to deepen understanding of approved DA-10 MIADP projects that will sustainably increase agricultural productivity and improve access to markets and services among organized farmer and fisherfolk groups in select ancestral domains (ADs) and commodity value chains in Mindanao.

To set off the implementation of approved projects, MIADP-10 is grounded on its key components — Ancestral Domain Planning and Social Preparation (Component 1); Resilient Ancestral Domain Agri-Fisheries Infrastructure (Component 2); Ancestral Domain Agri-Fisheries Production and Enterprise Development (Component 3); and Project Management and Support, Monitoring and Evaluation (Component 4).

Lana May S. Racines, MIADP-10 Component One head highlighted that community-driven initiatives are highly encouraged to facilitate efficient project execution within their planned timeframes.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of IPs were discussed by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), one of MIADP-10’s partners in championing ICCs or IPs’ welfare, apprising the participants on how to promote and protect their rights.

“To this day, neither the government nor private organizations can initiate projects without consent from those in the domain,” said NCIP Technical Management and Services Division chief Engr. Chona B. Lebanon.

In support of the event, Valencia City Mayor Azucena P. Huervas also expressed her appreciation to DA-RFO 10, noting that such projects rely on cooperation, thus, enjoining in attendance to contribute in ways they can.

As part of the ways forward, MIADP-10 is set to conduct various workshops and orientations with CEBUKTA AD volunteers to further inculcate roles and responsibilities for approved project design centered on support services in their domain.

IPs are among the most vulnerable in the Philippines and are in subsistence agriculture, yet, vast areas of land in ADs remain unused due to isolation and lack of support services.

Also present during the community assembly were Brgy. Lourdes captain Abraham N. Eslawan, CEBUKTA AD representative Datu Macario Loking along with other Datus and Baes, and select NCIP and MIADP-10 Component One staff.# (EJLG)