AD-Entrep boost 11 Higaonon, Manobo IP orgs for agri-interventions

BUTUAN CITY—The Department of Agriculture – Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (DA-MIADP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO 13), together with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and Local Project Management and Implementing Units (LPMIU), gathered 11 Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPO) for a two-day convergence with DA banner programs on July 27–28, 2026.

The strategic assembly brought together 11 Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs) across three priority Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) areas in Caraga such as: 

CADT 252 (LasBueNasCar, Agusan del Norte)

1. Manduminda Clan sa Casiklan Association Inc. (MACCAI) 
2. Lekda Inamay Higaonon Farmers Association (LIHFA)
3. Migduyan Farmers Organization (MIFAO)
4. Balataan Naamulan Higaonon Tribal Services Cooperative

CADT 136 (Bunawan, Agusan del Sur)

1. Bunawan Manobo Ancestral Domain Management Council Inc. (BMADMCI)
2. Consuelo Tribal Agroforestry Multipurpose Cooperative (COTAMPCO)
3. Consuelo Katibuan Tribal Council Inc. (COKATRICO)

CADT 116 (San Miguel, Surigao del Sur)

1. San Miguel Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities Association, Inc. (SAMMICCAI)
2. Bitaugan Indigenous Farmers People’s Association
3. Bitaugan Upland Farmers Association
4. Inadan Balik Kultura Association

Expanding Support Beyond MIADP

While MIADP provides primary funding and infrastructure support within ancestral domains, Enterprise Development Specialist Sherrie Ann C. Cardoniga underscored that the project is designed to act as a gateway to broader government assistance. She highlighted that these target interventions are aligned with each CADT’s Ancestral Domain Agricultural Implementation Framework (ADAIF), which is directly culled out from their respective Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plans (ADSDPP).

To maximize assistance, DA Banner Programs and attached agencies presented complementary resources, grants, and technical support available to IP farmers:

• Rice Program: Highlighted its ₱776.02 million budget allocation for Caraga in 2026, covering high-yield seeds, fertilizers, and farm machinery under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
• National Corn Program: Emphasized corn-livestock integration, clustering, and post-harvest facilities to boost farmer incomes.
• High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP): Outlined priority crop support for FY 2027, including commercial vegetables, spices, and fruit tree seedlings.
• Livestock Program: Presented its ₱136.49 million CY 2026 budget, featuring swine repopulation projects, native animal distribution, and artificial insemination programs.
• Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA): Detailed social protection, credit, and intercropping support under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP / RA 11524).
• PhilFIDA: Promoted abaca disease management, fiber processing machinery, and natural fiber propagation.

Promoting Registration Compliance

Participating IPOs were guided through mandatory government registration systems:

1. FFEDIS & RSBSA Systems: Ensuring accurate registration under the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS) and Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) so farmers can seamlessly receive multi-commodity assistance.
2. DA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Accreditation: Outlining guidelines under DA Administrative Circular No. 03 (s. 2022) to enable IPOs to legally partner with the government as co-implementing or beneficiary organizations.

Through synchronized planning across government agencies, DA-MIADP continues to build competitive, resilient, and market-driven agri-fishery enterprises across Mindanao’s ancestral domains.

MIADP | Indigenous Peoples’ Harnessing Opportunities for a Progressive Economy #IPsHOPE