CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A significant step towards progress has been taken for the Daraghuyan Ancestral Domain (Daraghuyan AD) as the Northern Mindanao Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) greenlit its crucial infrastructure project. The proposed Improvement and Concreting of the Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) subproject connecting Sitio Damitan to Sitio Ulangohon in Brgy. Dalwangan has been approved for funding, amounting to Php 21.9 million under the Department of Agriculture – Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project Regional Project Coordination Office 10 (DA-MIADP RPCO 10). The landmark decision was made during the RPAB deliberation held on April 25, 2025 at Marianne Suites Hotel.
This approval marks a significant milestone, representing the first MIADP subproject to gain RPAB endorsement in Northern Mindanao. The FMR subproject was presented to the RPAB by the Local Project Management and Implementation Unit (LPMIU) of Malaybalay City by Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering Division Engineer II Paul Cyril Baal. The board’s chairman, DA-RFO X Regional Executive Director (RED) and MIADP-10 Project Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, presided over the crucial deliberation.
The deliberation saw the active participation of key regional stakeholders. Among those present were Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council – Region 10 (RAFC-10) Chairperson Nilda B. Salas; National Commission on Indigenous Peoples – Region 10 (NCIP-10) OIC-Regional Director Fundador S. Binhaon Jr.; Department of Agrarian Reform – Region 10 (DAR-10), represented by ARFO II Engr. Raif C. Diampuan; Department of Public Works and Highways Region 10 (DPWH-10), represented by Engineer II Ariel A. Avila; Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Northern Mindanao Area Manager Lordelie Enjambre; Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Region 10 (DENR-10), represented by DMO II Cathy B. Escuzar; Department of the Interior and Local Government – Region 10 (DILG-10), represented by Asst. Division Chief Myrna Felicilda; Department of Trade and Industry – Region 10 (DTI-10), represented by Supervising TIDS Jayquel S. Penaloga; and MIADP Project Support Office (PSO) Deputy Project Director Engr. Cristy P. Pollido.
The DA-MIADP RPCO 10 component heads and staff were also in attendance, led by DPD Lana May S. Racines, alongside representatives from LPMIU Malaybalay City, headed by City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Adrian Gamboa. The Daraghuyan AD’s voices were also present, represented by the Daraghuyan AD indigenous political structure (IPS) representative, Bae Mangangapok Silda, and its indigenous peoples organization (IPO), the Inhandig Tribal Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ITMPC) led by Chairman Datu Arding Omarol who shared their aspirations.
This 1.184-kilometer Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) subproject holds an immense promise for the Daraghuyan AD and neighboring communities in Sitio Ulangohon and Sitio Damitan, Brgy. Dalwangan, Malaybalay City. By enhancing road connectivity, the project is expected to significantly reduce post-harvest losses, lower the average hauling cost of commodities, and ultimately boost agricultural productivity. The improved road connectivity also aims to shorten travel time for economically active commuters, increase economic activities, and improve access to healthcare, education, and government services.
The approval of the FMR subproject has been met with profound gratitude from the Daraghuyan community. Datu Arding expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the RPAB board, stating, “Dako among kalipay kay dako kaayo ug tabang ang kalsada sa amoa. Ang among mga produkto, sa among pagbyahe dili na maglisod. Ang mga bata dali na ang ilang pag eskwela. Pasalamat kaayo mi sa project sa MIADP nga nakatabang sa Daraghuyan.” Bae Silda echoed this sentiment, particularly regarding the proposed water system, saying, “Tanan tao nanghinanglan ug tubig. Busa nanghinaot ug nangampo kami na unta ang among pangandoy na tubig matuman nasad.“
DA-MIADP RPCO 10 aspires to uplift the quality of life of the marginalized indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples (ICC/IPs) within Daraghuyan AD through inclusive infrastructure development.
Component 2 Infrastructure Development Specialist (IDS) Frances Maira Benedicto presented two additional promising subprojects: the construction of a Multi-Commodity Warehouse with Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement, and the construction of the Daraghuyan AD Potable Water System (PWS) Level II. These projects are anticipated to follow the FMR in gaining RPAB approval, pending the completion and submission of all necessary requirements.
Complementing the infrastructure focus, Component 3 Enterprise Development Specialist (EDS) Jocelyn Dolar introduced the proposed Coffee Processing Facility. This initiative aims to provide vital support and enhance the coffee enterprise within the Daraghuyan AD, fostering long-term livelihood sustainability for the community.
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘋𝘈-𝘔𝘐𝘈𝘋𝘗 𝘙𝘗𝘊𝘖 10’𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦!
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