About 500 members of the indigenous peoples (IPs) community in Adams town in Ilocos Norte province look forward to harvesting more tilapia and catfish from their communal bodies of water and its aquaculture technology demonstration project.

This, after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 1 provided them a total of PHP300,000 worth of livelihood assistance.

Nestled atop mountains, Adams is located approximately 108.3 kilometers north of the capital city of Laoag.

With less than 3,000 residents, it is home to one of the indigenous peoples’ (IP) communities in northern Luzon, the Yapayao-Isneg tribe.

Hermogenes Tawali, a registered fisherfolk and one of the beneficiaries of the catfish farming technology project in Adams, said he is thankful that access to various government services is now within their reach, with people from the government reaching out even in the remotest part of the village.

“We are glad and thankful to receive this support from the government,” he said.

Led by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and various national government agencies, the “Hapag Katutubo” (indigenous table) project was launched in Adams on Tuesday to help IPs become more sufficient in agriculture

“The goal of the project is to holistically support the indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples by increasing their agricultural productivity and the creation of sustainable opportunities for income generation and self-sufficiency while preserving cultural heritage and traditional practices, and addressing the threats of climate change,” the NCIP said in a statement.

Specifically, about 15,000 hectares of land in Adams will be developed and planted with high-value crops, and the beneficiaries will be provided with agricultural inputs, water pumps, and tilapia fingerlings, and will be given skills and livelihood training.

Jorge Guerrero, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Region 1 information officer, said Wednesday that a leasehold agreement meeting between the IPs and the DAR officials has been conducted to shed light on issues on ancestral domains while several IPs sought legal advice concerning agrarian matters.

With the continuous rollout of the IPs service caravan in this part of Luzon, which started in Adams, Cheryll Tabangay, the first IP Board Member in the Ilocos Norte Sangguniaang Panlalawigan expressed hopes that no IP will be left behind in the province.

This project is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s 8-point socio-economic agenda, and promotes open government partnerships as stipulated in Executive Order No. 31 s. 2023. (PNA)