Maghrib Prayer

ALABEL, Sarangani (September 1, 2010) – Board Members Virgilio Tobias (6th from right) and Abdulracman Pangolima (2nd from left) lead the congregational Maghrib Prayer together with Mindanao State University Chancellor Atty. Abdulracman Canakan (2nd from right), Captain Iqbal of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) (3rd from left), Capitol employees and guests in celebration of 2nd Grand Iftar or breaking of the fast at the Provincial Capitol Tuesday, August 31. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

2nd Grand Iftar

ALABEL, Sarangani (September 1, 2010) – Governor Migs Dominguez gives his message to the Muslim community and Muslim employees of the Provincial Capitol during the celebration of 2nd Grand Iftar Tuesday, August 31. Iftar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. It is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with Muslims gathering to break their fast together. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

6000 IPs in Mindanao benefit from DA’s antipoverty program

Davao City — Indigenous peoples (IPs) are the majority beneficiaries of the livelihood projects of the antipoverty program of the Department of Agriculture in Mindanao .

This was bared in the recently concluded Mindanao-wide World Bank (WB) review mission of the DA’s five-year program, the Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP).

MRDP, now on its second phase is a multimillion program jointly funded by the World Bank, the National government and the local government units. For five years, the program has allotted close to US$30 million for its livelihood component, the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD).

Noted as among the country’s marginalized sector, a total of 6,055 IPs in Mindanao benefited agribusiness opportunities and capacity building activities through CFAD.

IP beneficiaries comprise 43 percent of the 14,185 total beneficiaries of CFAD. It was also reported that among the IPs, 2,640 were female and 3,415 were male.

CFAD is a community driven development where peoples themselves identify their own project based in the available resources of the community and skills of their members. This allows poor communities to take part in the decision-making process, establishing a sense of ownership and generating high level of participation.

Regional coverage

Most of the beneficiaries were from Region 10 (28%); followed by Region 11 (26%); Region 12 (22%); autonomus Region in Muslim Mindanao (10%); Caraga or Region 13 (8%); and Region 9 (7%).

Among the tribe which received the assistance were Ata, Manobo, Mansaka and Mandaya in Davao provinces, the Teduray in Sultan Kudatrat, T’boli in South Cotabato , Subanen in Zamboanga peninsula and Higaonon from Northen Mindanao and Agusan provinces.

These beneficiaries are engaged in production of high value crops like banana, vegetables, peanuts and fruits, cattle production, swine breeding while other groups received farm implements.

“Empowering the marginalized sector through agribusiness activities expands the strength of rural economy since agriculture as is said as the mainstay of economic activities in rural areas,” said Lealyn A. Ramos.

Ramos added that the program has exceeded its IP target beneficiaries. CFAD sets to target only 35 percent IPs among its beneficiaries.

“Women are purposively targeted since in rural areas, they (women) were found out to be vital in food security and played crucial role in family well-being,” Ramos added.(Sherwin B. Manual/DA-MRDP)

Dialogue

KIAMBA, Sarangani (March 22, 2010) – Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon talks with Bapa Acot Maulana, a Muslim leader in barangay Nalus, as the vice governor visits coastal villages Saturday, March 20. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Kulintang players

KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 12, 2010) – Muslim women display their skill in playing the Kulintang during the Cultural Day at the municipal kiosk Tuesday, February 11, as part of the town’s 62nd Foundation Anniversary celebration. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Abner P. Arzaga)