Tears welled up in Bai Leslie Dakias Taranza’s eyes as she stood before the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat, on September 23, 2024, during her presentation of the Ancestral Domain Agricultural Investment Framework (ADAIF).
There she implored the Sangguniang Bayan members to endorse the ADAIF, as a document to unlock the possibility of funding their sub-projects of the Manobo-Dulangan tribe through the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) of the Department of Agriculture.
“Sa ngalan sa akong mga katribong Manobo-Dulangan, ang inyong pag-uyon makapalambo sa among kinabuhi, hilabi na sa pag-atiman sa panginahanglan sa among pamilya, pag-eskwela sa among mga anak, ug pagpreserba sa among kultura ug yutang kabilin. Modow solamat!” (In the name of our Manobo-Dulangan tribe, your approval will improve our lives, especially the care of the needs of our family, the schooling of our children, and the preservation of our culture and heritage. Thank you very much). Bai Taranza passionately stated, representing the hopes and dreams of the Manobo-Dulangan tribe.
ADAIF: A Blueprint for Agri-fishery Development
In her presentation, Bai Taranza explained the ADAIF as a six-year agri-fishery development plan that serves as an enabling document to secure funding for agricultural interventions in the Manobo-Dulangan AD, which covers 26,994.21 hectares. This framework according to her, reflects the community’s priority investments, identified through extensive consultations and field validations.
With approximately 10,593 Indigenous People residing in the AD, Bai highlighted their agricultural profile such as hectarages of agri-crop production, agroforestry, forestry, and protected areas, with current commodities such as coffee, rice, corn, coconut, cacao, peanut, chicken, tilapia, and cattle.
Bai emphasized the need for private investments in coffee processing, nursery, and farm inputs for corn and coconut. She also underscored existing infrastructure, including farm-to-market roads, steel hanging bridges, solar dryers, warehouses, and potable water systems, but pointed out gaps requiring further attention.
Coffee Enterprise and Infrastructure Projects
A key proposal from the ADAIF is the “Coffee Production, Consolidation, and Marketing” project, to be managed by the Kulaman Manobo Dulangan Organization, Inc. (KMDO). Bai also presented several infrastructure that will support the coffee agri-enterprise such as road concreting and improvement in key barangays such as Pangaan, Sitio Balite, Sitio Mulawin, and others in Brgy. Nati, Lagubang, Bugso, and Kuden.
Closing her presentation, Bai passionately urged the SB to endorse the ADAIF, marking it as a vital step toward the successful implementation of the MIADP within the Ancestral Domain.
SB’s Overwhelming Support
Following the presentation, the SB members of the LGU-SNA expressed their overwhelming support for the MIADP and the ADAIF. Hon. Desidor assured, “The biggest obligation of the SB is to throw our full support through a resolution and provide equity as our counterpart.”
Hon. Ricardo, serving as the Committee on Finance, affirmed, “As a committee member, I fully support the project. The initiative is commendable, and I will ensure the financial backing is secured.”
IPMR Dakias pointed out that the project would not only benefit the Indigenous Peoples but also all 17 barangays of SNA.
“This support goes beyond just the Manobo-Dulangan tribe—it is for the whole municipality,” he stated.
“I am giving 150% support to this project,” she stated with conviction. She then sent a heartfelt message to all MIADP key players and IP partners, encouraging them to pursue the project with passion and commitment to uplift the Indigenous Communities. Her words solidified the LGU’s full backing of the ADAIF, ensuring the success of the MIADP initiatives within the Manobo-Dulangan AD.
MIADP, a six-year World Bank-funded initiative, aims to uplift 26 ancestral domains across Mindanao. The ADAIF of the Manobo-Dulangan tribe, represents a model for inclusive agricultural development. The SB’s unanimous support is a testament to the shared vision of progress for the Manobo-Dulangan’s agri-enterprise.
Acting Vice Mayor Ortega-Caseta concluded the session with words of assurance, “Rest assured, this august body will give its 100% support to this project.”
With this unwavering commitment, the Manobo-Dulangan tribe is set to experience transformative change, not just in their agricultural ventures but also in preserving their culture and improving their way of life. (Joey D. Bayawan, AD Coordinator-Magpet, Edited: TSP-CKMS)
