Zamboanga City — In a significant stride towards inclusive and sustainable development in indigenous communities, the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) of the Department of Agriculture – MIADP RPCO IX convened in Zamboanga City to deliberate on the proposed Improvement/Concreting of Datu Tutukan to Labangon Farm-to-Market Road within the Ancestral Domain of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur on July 29, 2025. The meeting culminated with the majority approval of the subproject, signaling strong institutional support for improved rural connectivity in the upland indigenous areas.
The deliberation brought together members of the RPAB, composed of regional representatives from DILG IX, DENR IX, DTI IX, RAFC, DPWH IX, NCIP IX, and DAR IX, along with the DA-MIADP Regional Project Coordination Office IX, headed by Regional Executive Director Engr. Marcos C. Aves Sr., and Deputy Project Director Maria Gemma S. Genaldo. Also present were the Local Project Management Implementing Unit (LPMIU) of Zamboanga del Sur, LGU personnel of Dumingag, barangay officials from Datu Tutukan and Labangon, and the Subanen Indigenous Political Structure represented by Timuay Basildan Cansan.
The subproject, which aims to pave 5.91 kilometers of rural access road between Barangays Datu Tutukan and Labangon, is expected to benefit approximately 3,653 residents—including 2,761 Indigenous Peoples—across four barangays in the Road Influence Area (RIA), namely Macasing, Datu Tutukan, Danlugan, and Labangon. Supporting 926 households and over 493 farmers, the road development will significantly improve access to markets for key commodities such as corn, rice, coconut, and cotton—stimulating both subsistence and commercial agricultural productivity within the Subanen ancestral domain.
The proposal was presented by the LPMIU of Zamboanga del Sur through a comprehensive discussion of the project profile, further strengthened by an immersive audio-visual presentation. This included 3D photogrammetry mapping of the project site and video documentation of testimonials from Subanen farmers and community members who articulated the urgent need for improved road access in their ancestral land.
Following the presentation, RPAB members raised insightful queries on technical, environmental, and social aspects of the project. These were adequately addressed by the proponents, showcasing the project’s preparedness and alignment with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework, as well as the inclusive approach of DA-MIADP.
The RPAB commended the project’s strong stakeholder engagement, particularly the active participation of the Subanen IPS. Suggestions were also given to further enhance the project’s documentation and implementation strategy to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in its execution.
The meeting ended on a hopeful note as the board voted in favor of the proposal, marking it as majority approved. This decision not only greenlights the subproject for further processing and implementation but also reaffirms the government’s commitment to equitable development in far-flung indigenous communities.
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