General Santos City – Four Indigenous People’s Organizations (IPOs) from South Cotabato are set to advance their agricultural enterprises following the approval of their proposed enterprise subprojects during the 8th Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) meeting held on August 28, 2026, at Venue 88 Hotel and Events Place, this city.
The four enterprise subprojects, representing a combined Total Project Cost (TPC) of ₱45,314,845.29, were approved by the board as part of the continuing implementation of the Department of Agriculture – Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (DA-MIADP) in support of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs).
The approved enterprise subprojects are:
1. Lamhaku Farmers Association (LFA), Tboli – ₱13,536,320.00
2. Kematu Farmers Association (KFA), Tboli – ₱10,260,160.00
3. Malaya Tribal Leaders & Farmers Association (MTLFA), Banga – ₱15,788,018.00
4. Lam-apos Indigenous People’s Organization (LIPO), Banga – ₱5,730,347.29
The investments are largely composed of working capital, hauling trucks and motorcycles, drying facilities, warehouses, and other enterprise-related farming equipment intended to strengthen the organizations’ existing agricultural activities and improve their capacity to consolidate, process, transport and market their produce.
The RPAB quorum was attended by representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG XII), Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFC XII), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA XII), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH XII), and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP XII).
Also in attendance were representatives from the Local Government Units of Tboli and Banga, who joined the proceedings in support of their respective IPO constituents, and the project’s Technical Service Provider, Orient Integrated Development Consultants Incorporated (OIDCI).
DA XII Regional Executive Director and MIADP Project Director John Pascual, DVM was represented by AD-Support Head Maria Cecilia Frando during the proceedings.
Following the RPAB approval, the four IPOs will enter into Enterprise Investment Agreements (EIAs) with DA-MIADP and their respective LGUs within the year. The signing of these agreements will formally establish the approved enterprise investments and allow the subprojects to proceed to the procurement and subsequent implementation phase.
Adam Ibrahim A. Canape (MPO, RPCO XII)
#𝐈𝐏𝐬𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 | Indigenous Peoples Harnessing Opportunities for a Progressive Economy
