IP Communities in W. Visayas share concerns during monitoring of ancestral domains

Three Ancestral Domains (AD) from Antique, Aklan, and Calinog were visited by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas and the Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo – National Program Management Office (4K-NPMO) for sub-project monitoring and evaluation of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) from March 18 to 20. The evaluation served as a way for the agency to ensure that the IPs’ needs are effectively addressed and their livelihoods are sustainably developed.

Members of the Iraynon-Bukidnon Indigenous People of Maybunga in Brgy. Maybunga, Laua-an, Antique; the Association of Indigenous People of Oyang in Libacao, Aklan; and the Panay Bukidnon Indigenous People of Brgy. Masaroy, Calinog, Iloilo gathered in their respective ancestral domains to voice their concerns and situation to the agency. DA-WV 4K Focal Person Glenda A. Himatay highlighted that the occasion served as a reminder that they are prioritized not only by the regional office but also by the national government.

While the 4K-NPMO evaluated the communities during their meetings, some members were given one-on-one interviews by the DA-WV 4K Program team to further assess any progress from 2019—the year before COVID-19 and before they received aid from the 4K Program—up to 2024.

After receiving the babuyang walang amoy, cast nets, and various seedlings, the Chieftain of the Iraynon-Bukidnon Indigenous People, Lorna Raymundo, expressed her gratitude to the DA-4K Program for helping her community. Through the agency’s efforts and services, their community was able to produce taro and banana chips, which they now sell, thus improving their livelihood.

Meanwhile, during an interview with Marites Villorente, a fellow farmer and wife of Akeanon Bukidnon Indigenous People Chieftain Arnie Z. Dolinog, she stated that it was through the training her husband received in Banga, Aklan that they were introduced to the 4K Program. She recalls that their livelihood before the program relied solely on abaca production. However, they struggled, as the predominantly rainy weather in their area disrupted the quality of their product. This problem led them to shift to root crop production as a substitute in case abaca production did not meet their expectations.

Despite such drawbacks, she still managed to have five of her eight children finish their education. She emphasized how grateful she and her husband are for the DA 4K Program and how determined they are to prove their association deserves the program’s support: “Sabi ng asawa ko, kayanin natin yung association. Baka sa huli makikita din nila na tayo’y interesado.”

Brgy. Chairman and Board of Directors member of the Brgy. Masaroy Farmers Association, Roger Diaz of the Panay Bukidnon Indigenous People, on the other hand, enumerated the support they received from the 4K Program, including baboyang walang amoy, farming tools, cut flower seeds, vegetable seedlings, and nursery facilities. Highlighting the training provided, he shared that it taught them valuable farming techniques and significantly helped their livelihood. He emphasized that DA 4K’s services align with the government’s goal of alleviating poverty, stating, “Eto dapat yung ginagawa ng gobyerno, sila yung pumupunta sa atin upang tulungan tayo.”

He also encouraged his fellow IP members not to rely solely on aid, stressing the importance of maximizing the training and inputs provided to them to help their community thrive, “Magsikap tayo, di lang tayo lagi magtiwala sa DA kasi para din ito sa ating katutubo at tsaka sa future generations.”

Through targeted community needs assessments, the Department of Agriculture’s 4K Program aims to improve the provision of assistance in the form of livelihood opportunities related to agriculture and fisheries, investments through the provision of production and post-harvest machinery and equipment, and various support services to the ICCs/IPs nationwide. It seeks to increase productivity through the development of sustainable agricultural enterprises and to enhance profitability by increasing income, while taking into account their customs, traditions, values, beliefs, and interests in the development of the Ancestral Domains of the ICCs/IPs. ###

Texts and Photos by: Je Erryl Shayne Esmao/DA-RAFIS 6