DAVAO DEL NORTE, MARCH 21, 2025 – As part of the technical review of infrastructure subprojects across all Regional Program Coordination Offices (RPCOs), the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) visited RPCO XI’s proposed site for its farm-to-market road with bridge infrastructure subproject for the Ata-Manobo Ancestral Domain (AD) in Gupitan, Kapalong.
The field visit provided strengthened visual input for MIADP’s Component 2 or Resilient Ancestral Domain Agri-Fisheries Infrastructure technical review wherein proposed infrastructure subprojects across all MIADP RPCOs are evaluated for technical considerations to strengthen their integrity before Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) deliberation and approval. World Bank consultant Raoul Azanza led the review, with expertise from Social Development Specialist Annabelle Vitti Corpuz.
“Wala kuy laing maistorya kun dili pasalamat gyud sa maong mga proyekto bisan wala pa naabot sa among komunidad. As lider sa tribo, dako akong pasalamat nga ang gidahum sa tribo muabot ra jud,” Indigenous Political Structure leader Datu Evangelio Warag, said.
(I don’t have anything to say but feel grateful for the projects even though they’re still in the works. As a leader of the tribe, I am grateful that what we’ve longed for in the tribe will come.”
MIADP’s Deputy Project Director Christy Cecilia Polido led the team with World Bank Consultant Raoul Azanza, alongside the PSO’s infrastructure specialists and officers. RPCOs 9, 10, 12, 13, and BARMM also participated in the visit.
Addressing the Ata-Manobo crowd, MIADP Project Support Office’s (PSO) Deputy Project Director Engr. Christy Cecilia Polido enthused, “Narito po ang MIADP para maibot ng gobyerno ang kanyang kamay para ma-iangat ang antas ng kabuhayan ng ating mga Datu at mga Bae. Sana po gamitin natin ang MIADP para maiakyat ang antas ng ating kabuhayan.”
(MIADP is here for the government to extend its hand to elevate the living conditions of our IPs. We hope that MIADP will be instrumental in changing your lives.)
MIADP’s Component 2 aims to build infrastructure that supports sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural and fisheries practices within Indigenous People’s ancestral domains.
RPCO XI’s Infra Subproject in Gupitan, Kapalong
RPCO XI’s infrastructure subproject for the AD of Ata-Manobo proposes a 4.5-kilometer farm-to-market road with a 60-linear meter bridge that connects the sitios of Mangkay and Kapatagan in barangay Gupitan, Kapalong.
“Mula sa Station 0, hanggang dito, maganda ang preparation ng lupa. May draft plan na to, initial na ginawa ng LGU, i-vavalidate namin ang design kung angkop doon sa facilities. Sana magkasundo-sundo kami kung ano ang dapat gawin sa proyekto,” Azanza said.
(From Station 0 to here, the land preparation is good. There is already a draft plan, initially done with the LGU, and we will validate if the design is apt for the facilities. Hopefully we will agree on what to do with this project.)
For the visit, the team was led by Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations and MIADP RPCO XI’s Deputy Project Director Zabdiel Zacarias with Component 2 Head Hazel May Castillon with Davao del Norte’s PLGU and LPMIU.
“Sana po ang ating mga imprastraktura ay maging daan upang ang ating mga anak, makarating sa eskwelahan; ang ating agrikultura…sana may mai-angkat. Sana ang MIADP maging daan para magkaroon ng self-sustainability sa ating Ancestral Domain,” DPD Polido added.
(We aspire for the infrastructures (we will built) to pave the way for our children to go to school; our local produce, sold and marketed. May MIADP be a way for our Ancestral Domain to reach self-sustainability.)
When realized, the proposed infra subproject in Gupitan is the first with a bridge element across all RPCOs.
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