PANGANTUCAN, BUKIDNON — The Pigsabuwahan hu Tribu ta Kalatungan Kaglambaga, or the Council of Elders Federation of Mt. Kalatungan, positively received the Department of Agriculture – Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (DA-MIADP) during their crucial meeting on May 15, 2025. This meeting followed a provisional resolution that the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) En Banc issued earlier on May 8, 2025. This resolution indicates that a provisional clearance for DA-MIADP depends on the outcome of the Pigsabwahan meeting, which will determine the future of this significant project in the Council of Elders of Bukidnon Tribal Association Ancestral Domain (CEBUKTA AD).
Addressing Project Concerns and Seeking Tribal Endorsement
During the PAMB En Banc meeting, concerns arose regarding a specific portion of the proposed Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) subproject, as it potentially traverses the gaup (ancestral land area managed by a specific clan under indigenous customary law) of the Tumindok Indigenous Political Organization (IPO), which the Domia Clan administers. Therefore, a formal resolution from the Pigsabuwahan hu Tribu ta Kalatungan Kaglambaga became essential to ensure the project’s smooth progression, fostering acceptance from all involved communities and preventing potential conflicts.
Datu Bagusayana Johnny B. Guina, chairperson of the Council of Elders Federation of Mt. Kalatungan, presided over the meeting. Key figures who attended included Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) for Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park Roy R. Aguanta, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples – Region 10 (NCIP 10), represented by Public Health Nurse II Joville N. Litanon, Pangantucan Municipal Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Datu Eric P. Salido, and esteemed datus and baes of the Pigsabuwahan. Deputy Project Director (DPD) Lana May S. Racines led the DA-MIADP Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) 10, and RPCO 10 staff accompanied her.
Development Management Officer II Amy S. Gumera delivered an informative presentation detailing the DA-MIADP and highlighting its anticipated positive impacts on the communities within the Ancestral Domain. Furthermore, a comprehensive location map also illustrated the entirety of CEBUKTA and its location within the Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park, effectively delineating the boundaries of the concerned gaups.
Community Voices and Collaborative Agreement
Datu Macario D. Loking, AD Representative for CEBUKTA AD, expressed his optimism for the community, emphasizing unity and the potential benefits of the project for all within the Ancestral Domain. Bae Ivy D. Bedrejo, representing the Tumindok IPO, clarified their support for the project while underscoring the importance of respecting the existing agreement with CEBUKTA and ensuring proper acknowledgement and consultation if the project impacts their territory. Municipal IPMR Datu Eric P. Salido highlighted the significance of inclusivity and harmony, advocating for the involvement of both gaups in the project’s implementation.
Crucially, both parties reached a consensus: for DA-MIADP to proceed within CEBUKTA AD, the Tumindok IPO will operate under the umbrella of CEBUKTA AD. Furthermore, it was agreed that if the project impacts their respective gaups, the concerned IPO will be consulted accordingly.
Moving Towards Project Implementation
Based on this positive agreement, a resolution was drafted and will be submitted to the PAMB. This resolution will serve as a supplement to the provisional clearance, paving the way for the issuing of a full PAMB Clearance for DA-MIADP within CEBUKTA AD, marking a significant step forward for the project and for the partner ICC/IPs the project aims to serve.
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘋𝘈-𝘔𝘐𝘈𝘋𝘗 𝘙𝘗𝘊𝘖 10’𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦!
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