As part of the 6th World Bank Implementation Support Mission (WB ISM) for the Department of Agriculture–Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (DA-MIADP), the World Bank task team visited key infrastructure and enterprise subprojects in the municipalities of Rosario and Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, from September 2–3, 2026.
The mission targeted crucial monitoring and evaluation benchmarks: assessing physical project progress, uncovering field-level operational bottlenecks, and offering tailored technical feedback to keep implementation strictly aligned with World Bank environmental, social, and fiduciary standards.
Beyond site inspections, the mission prioritized deep engagement with the local Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) to guarantee that all interventions respect ancestral domain rights, protect cultural heritage, and promote environmental integrity.
Led by World Bank Task Team Leader for MIADP Ms. Paula Beatrice Macandog, the delegation inspected four major subprojects:
- 1. Purok 6, Cabantao–Gawahon–Redline–Maligaya Farm-to-Market Road (FMR)
Rosario, Agusan del Sur | CADT No. 078
3.78 kilometers
₱78.2 million
Benefiting 114 households
- 2. Ocite-to-Bahi Farm-to-Market Road (FMR)
- Sta. Cruz, Rosario | CADT No. 078
- 2.77 kilometers
- ₱53.1 million
- Benefiting 779 households
- 3. CAMMPACAMM – CADT 078 Rosario Manobo Tribe Association, Inc.
- Marfil, Rosario | CADT No. 078
5,974 members
Coconut Consolidation and Marketing Subproject- ₱15.7 million
- 4. Bunawan Manobo Ancestral Domain Management Council, Inc. (BMADMCI)
- Bunawan, Agusan del Sur | CADT No. 136
- 16,594 members
Palay Production, Consolidation and Marketing Subproject- ₱14.5 million
During the dialogue with tribal elders, local leaders, and project beneficiaries, Macandog highlighted community ownership as the cornerstone of long-term project success.
“These subprojects are not ours but yours, and we are all project partners in development,” Macandog emphasized to the gathered community members. “Our objective here is ensuring these developments truly benefit you and remain sustainable for decades to come,”
WB Senior Agriculturist Farbod Youseffi reminded the community that the infrastructure serves as a strategic launchpad for long-term economic growth.
“This project is built as a tool to enable you to earn more, spend less, and do more,” Youseffi stated. “We need to look beyond infrastructure and think of it as an opportunity to sell more products and improve our livelihoods.”
By viewing the new farm-to-market road as an economic catalyst rather than just physical concrete, community members are encouraged to maximize its potential—lowering hauling costs, opening new market channels, and generating sustainable income for indigenous households.
In closing, BMADMCI Enterprise Manager Francis Laurence Peñaloga thanked the team for visiting and expressed commitment to continue to push forward for community growth, agricultural progression, and sustainable livelihoods.
Through these combined infrastructure and enterprise investments, the DA-MIADP continues to strengthen economic opportunities, improve food security, and champion ancestral domain governance for Indigenous Peoples (IP) in Mindanao.
MIADP | Indigenous Peoples’ Harnessing Opportunities for a Progressive Economy #IPsHOPE
