DAVAO DEL SUR, January 16, 2025 – The Department of Agriculture – Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) XI conducted a cluster-based series of community assemblies for the Bagobo-Tagabawa Ancestral Domain (AD), the first of many activities under the project’s social preparation phase.
Two clusters from the municipality of Sta. Cruz and one from the city of Digos, in Davao del Sur, were initiated.
The assemblies serve as a touchstone for the project and the AD to level off with the project’s thrust, components, and subprojects. It culminated with the identification of AD volunteers who will act as the project’s focals in its entire implementation.
Newly-appointed Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Zabdias Zacarias attended the first assembly in Sta. Cruz, encouraging the group to strive and persist to ensure the project’s development.
“Kalipay nako nga nakauban mo aning proyektoha. Dili nato makab-ot ang tiunay nga kalamboan kung di nato agian ni nga proseso. Paningkamot, pagtibangay, ug padayon para sa paglambo. Atong ginalantaw nga hangtod atong mga kaapohan makaambit sa atong mga singot ug paningkamot,” Zacarias underlined.
(It’s my joy to be with you in this project. We can’t reach true development if we don’t endure through this process. Let’s strive, help each other, and carry on for development. What we envision here is for our kin to benefit from our sweat and endeavor.)
The Bagobo-Tagabawa AD spans within two administrative regions, XI and XII. In Davao Region, two municipalities (Sta. Cruz, Bansalan) and one city (Digos City) in Davao del Sur, and the district of Toril in Davao City fall within the AD’s jurisdiction. In SOCCKSARGEN, the municipality of Makilala in North Cotabato completes the AD’s coverage.
“Ang yuta sa tribo kinahanglan i-develop, atong kayanon. Kaya basta dawaton nato. Dako ang matabang sa DA ug MIADP para sa atoa, maong maningkamot kita,” Unified Indigenous Political Structure head Henan Ambe said.
(Our lands need to be developed, let’s all tackle this. We can do it. DA and MIADP will extend their help, that’s why we need to strive for it.)
MIADP RPCO XI targets for the remaining clusters in Region XI to be assembled before the month ends.
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