More than 4,800 Indigenous farmers belonging to the Manobo tribe in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, are expected to benefit from PHP11 million worth of farm machinery, equipment, and hauling vehicles turned over by the Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA-13) on Monday.
The assistance, provided through DA’s Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), will support the Bunawan Manobo Ancestral Domain Management Council Inc.’s proposed palay production, consolidation, and marketing subproject.
The initiative is designed to reduce post-harvest losses and transportation costs while supporting rice production across as much as 360 hectares.
The equipment package includes a wing van hauling truck, a 14-foot dropside hauling truck, a rice combine harvester, two moisture meters, two weighing scales, two platform trolleys, and 10 plastic pallets.
The equipment will be used for harvesting, post-harvest handling, weighing, and transporting agricultural products to markets.
Bunawan Mayor Sylvia B. Elorde welcomed the assistance and stressed the local government’s commitment to ensuring that the equipment is properly maintained and used to generate long-term economic benefits for the Manobo community.
Municipal Tribal Chieftain Hawudon Rolito Peñaloga Sr. also welcomed the turnover, saying it was gratifying to see long-running development efforts finally translate into tangible support for the community.
“For a long time, we have worked and waited for development like this to reach our community. We are grateful that these efforts have finally borne fruit for our Manobo farmers,” Peñaloga said.
MIADP Deputy Project Director Rebecca R. Atega said the turnover reflects a shared commitment to agricultural modernization and sustainable development.
She also expressed confidence that under the tribe’s capable stewardship, the resources will be utilized effectively to achieve the organization’s goals.
Funded through the World Bank, MIADP supports agricultural development in ancestral domains across Mindanao, with programs aimed at improving farm productivity and strengthening market access for Indigenous cultural communities. (PNA)
