𝐀 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦-𝐭𝐨-𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠

Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur – A new chapter in development was written on February 6, 2025, as stakeholders gathered at the Executive Hall of the Provincial Capitol in Pagadian City for a historic signing of the 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐈𝐌𝐀). The agreement paves the way for the much-anticipated 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺-𝘁𝗼-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴, 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿—a long-awaited dream finally materializing for Indigenous communities and local farmers.

The Department of Agriculture’s 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 (DA-MIADP) spearheaded this initiative, aiming to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and uplift the Indigenous Cultural Community of Dumingag. Leading the event were 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗗. 𝗚𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗴𝗮 of the DA-MIADP Project Support Office (PSO) and 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗖. 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗿. of the Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) IX. Zamboanga del Sur 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗻. 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗝. 𝗬𝘂, 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗧. 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 of Dumingag, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗶ñ𝗮𝗼 of NCIP Zamboanga del Sur and the Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) of AD-Dumingag, represented by 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗮𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴, were also present to witness this milestone.

The ceremony opened with a warm welcome from 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗿. 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗼 𝗡. 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮, Head of the Local Project Management and Implementing Unit (LPMIU) for Zamboanga del Sur. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗿. 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗗. 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗮𝘀 followed with a presentation of the Subproject Profile, detailing the project’s scope and expected impact on the community.

At the heart of the event was the ceremonial signing of the IMA, officiated by key signatories including Regional Executive Directors Macario D. Gonzaga and Engr. Marcos C. Aves Sr., alongside Governor Victor J. Yu and Mayor Gerry T. Paglinawan. Witnessing the momentous occasion were representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Region IX and the Indigenous Political Structure of AD-Dumingag.

Governor Yu underscored his commitment to fast-tracking all necessary documentation to ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of the project. Mayor Paglinawan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to DA-MIADP, recognizing the project’s crucial role in improving accessibility and agricultural productivity in Indigenous communities.

For 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗿. 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗣. 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗼, this agreement was not just another project—it was a historic first for DA-MIADP. Meanwhile, Tribal Chieftain Timuay Eddie Rossing conveyed deep appreciation on behalf of his people, stating that a concrete road in their Ancestral Domain had been a long-standing aspiration, finally set to become reality.

Marking a moment of achieving a long-time dream, NCIP Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Director Marita Miñao shared her personal joy, reflecting that witnessing the realization of this project before her retirement was profoundly meaningful.

Closing the ceremony, 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗚𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮 𝗦. 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗼 of DA-MIADP RPCO IX lauded the collaboration among stakeholders and emphasized how the project aligns with broader infrastructure development, agricultural growth, and Indigenous empowerment.

The signing of the IMA signals not just the start of road construction but the beginning of a transformative journey for Dumingag’s Indigenous communities. This farm-to-market road will provide farmers with easier access to markets, improve mobility, and unlock new economic opportunities—laying the foundation for a future built on resilience, inclusivity, and progress. With national and local agencies working hand in hand, the road ahead is not just one of concrete and gravel, but one of hope and lasting change.

#DA9 #ParaSaMasaganangBagongPilipinas #MIADP #RehiyonNueve #IPsHOPE #Mindanao | Indigenous Peoples’ Harnessing Opportunities for a Progressive Economy

✒️📸 Jajie Jam J. Abergas, MPO | DA-MIADP RPCO IX