The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office One (DA-RFO1), through its 4K (Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo) Program, guided delegates of the National 4K Program in reaching Indigenous Peoples (IP) beneficiaries in Pugo, La Union, and San Nicolas, Pangasinan, during the event: DA-4K Program Sub-Project Monitoring and Site Visitation in Selected Ancestral Domains in Region One on May 13-17, 2024.
Under the leadership of Ms. Abigail W. Bayaua, the program focal, together with the the 4K staff of the DA-RFO1, the event was successfully coordinated with various Indigenous groups, farmer associations, and the Provincial and Municipal Agriculture Offices in extending the reach of the National 4K Office for updates and improvement of outreach programs.
Palina, Pugo, La Union: Joined by Municipal Mayor Hon. Kurt Walter M. Martin, Municipal Indigenous Person Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Hon. Victor D. Lales, members of the Cagaling Palina Pugo Farmers Association, Inc., and members of the Bago, Kankanaey, and Ibaloi tribes, beneficiaries shared experiences, updates, and suggestions for improvements of the 4K Sub-Programs, such as the augmentation of the area’s water supply, in which concerns were addressed by 4K Program Director Lucia A. Campomanes on May 14, 2024.
The program concluded with Hon. Kurt Martin expressing his gratitude by granting the winning piece of a recently held wood-carving competition in Pugo as a token of appreciation to 4K Program Director Campomanes. As of May 2024, a total of Php 535,090.00 was allocated to the interventions for the IP of Palina, Pugo, La Union.
Fianza, San Nicolas, Pangasinan: Graced by the welcoming presence of the Iwak and Ibaloi tribes with the Indigenous Peoples Organization (IPO) I-OWAK Tribe Earth Saver’s Association Inc., the event pushed through in raising concerns in the open forum between IPs and the Regional and National 4K Offices wherein the improvement of Fianza’s products, such as the banana vinegar and banana chips were brought to attention as well as the success in raising second generation chickens from the initial chicken intervention of the DA-RFO1 on May 15-16, 2024. It was also mentioned by the tribal chieftain, Delbert Agustin, that this was the first time the people of Fianza were reached by National Government and extended their thanks to the Regional and National Officers of the DA 4K Program. As of May 2024, the allocated funds for the Fianza, San Nicolas, Pangasinan totaled Php 182,925.00, with discussions for further interventions.
As Hon. Kurt Walter M. Martin and 4K Program Director Lucia A. Campomanes asserted, “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴; 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴; 𝘒𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘺𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘺. 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.” And true enough, the Department of Agriculture 4K Program promises to listen to concerns and improve projects for the betterment of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines, staying true to their name and advocacy: Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo.
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