Indigenous Peoples (IPs) Farmer’s Cooperative and Association (FCA) in the Municipality of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur received farm machineries and equipment from the Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks) Program of the Department of Agriculture – Caraga held in Brgy. Caromata, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on November 15.

Headed by Regional Executive Director Engr. Ricardo M. Oñate Jr., together with Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca R. Atega, and DA-4Ks Focal Person Edelmira Luminarias the P4.2 million pesos worth of farming machinery and equipment was turned over by the agency to CADT 116 or the San Miguel Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities (SAMMICC) headed by SAMMICC Chairperson Datu Cyrus Bat-ao.

The agricultural machinery and equipment distributed include 1 unit of a four-wheel tractor, 1 unit of a mobile corn mill, 1 unit of 3-in-1 corn sheller, and 1 unit of generator set for corn miller.

According to DA-4Ks Focal Person Edelmira Luminarias, the interventions given were based on the Ancestral Domains Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP) of CADT 116 that are beneficial to their livelihood and community.

“Together with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) – Caraga and the CADT 116 tribal community, we found out that they have a vast area of corn and rice production with suitable topography. That is the reason why we specify these types of machinery for them,” Luminarias said.

In his acceptance message, SAMMICC Chairperson Datu Cyrus Bat-ao believes that the interventions will address common problems that the community has experienced over the past years such as unemployment, inconsistent farm yield, and food accessibility, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

“For this given intervention, we will create a tribal ordinance on how these machines will be used and serve all of the farmers’ from 15 barangays included the CADT area so that it will be properly taken care of. Our topmost priority now is to produce more so we could provide more food not just in the tribal area but the neighboring towns as well,” Datu Bat-ao said.

Regional Executive Director Ricardo M. Oñate, Jr also highlighted the importance of being consistent to achieve the sustainable plans of the tribal community.

“All of this machinery and equipment are already in place, what’s left is our commitment to make use of all of these to supplement to our deficiencies – in terms of production, the yield, employment opportunities among others. To our tribal brothers and sisters, the government most especially the Department of Agriculture, is just right here always ready and willing to help you with your necessities,” Oñate said.

Surigao del Sur Provincial Agriculturist Marcos M. Quico also added that the tribal community should not limit themselves in accessing the projects of the department since they are one of the topmost priority individuals, given their skills and expertise in farming and their vast areas of production.

Present as well during the ceremony were Municipal Agriculturist Ulysses Ravelo and Municipal Tribal Chieftain Datu Eduardo Joel Montenegro. (Kent Warren H. Fugoso, IO-I, DA-RAFIS13)