Aggie-NorMin hosts first Mindanao IPs Summit to cap 2025 IPs’ month

 

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon – The Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) Program of the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao Field Office (Aggie-NorMin), capped the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ (IPs) Month celebration by hosting the first Mindanao Cluster Indigenous Peoples Summit on October 27-31, here.

The observance of the IP Month is enshrined in Presidential Proclamation No. 1906 of 2009, to celebrate and protect the rights, cultures, and heritage of the IPs.

With the theme “Weaving Culture, Enriching Future: Empower Indigenous Communities as Bedrock of Sustainable Development,” the summit convened IP community leaders from the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Socksargen and Caraga, to forge a unified stand for inclusive development amid diverse cultural background.

A plenary session highlighting the agri-fishery programs, projects, and services of the DA and its partner government agencies provided the IP leaders with fresh viewpoints for agricultural development in their respective communities.

Trademark agri-trade products from IP communities in Mindanao were exhibited in the week-long summit boasting the rich indigenous culture of the country.

The summit took to the stage traditional agricultural practices such as fire-making, corn shelling and stone grinding, and rice milling to honor indigenous agricultural knowledge.

To benchmark best practices of tribal communities in Northern Mindanao, the summit delegates visited the Daraghuyan Ancestral Domain (AD) of CADT 106 in Malaybalay City.

The Daraghuyan AD expands within the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park with close to 400 hectares production areas for coffee, abaca, and other agricultural commodities.

Bukidnon Governor, Rogelio Neil P. Roque, DA-4K National Director Gilbert V. Baltazar, Aggie-NorMin OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations Viralou L. Tuquib, DVM, and OIC-Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Lana May S. Racines, graced the summit together with Bukidnon PLGU and Aggie-NorMin personnel and officials.

The first Mindanao Cluster IP Summit was organized by the Aggie-NorMin 4K Program, in partnership with the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) – Region 10, and the Indigenous Affairs Division of the Bukidnon Provincial Local Government.

Davao Region will host the Mindanao Cluster IP Summit in 2026. # (ATT/Photo Credits: NQA, KAC)