Butuan city: The Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) in the Caraga region has approved a P14.5-million enterprise subproject aimed at empowering Indigenous Peoples (IP) farmers in Agusan del Sur. This marks the region's first initiative under the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), set to enhance the local rice industry while promoting long-term growth for the community.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA-13) announced the approval following a board meeting held in Butuan City. The project, titled "Palay Production, Consolidation, and Marketing," was proposed by the Bunawan Manobo Ancestral Domain Management Council Inc. (BMADMCI). The initiative seeks to provide sustained support to Bunawan's rice commodity and empower IP farmers by creating opportunities for development.

The project's approval was overseen by DA-13 Regional Executive Director Arlan Mangelen, who is also the MIADP project coordinator for the Caraga Region. In a statement, BMADMCI Tribal Adviser Bae Mahubay Elvira Catuburan expressed gratitude to the board members, emphasizing confidence that the project would catalyze future growth for the Manobo community in Bunawan.

The MIADP, led by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, continues its mission to reduce poverty and enhance food security across indigenous communities in Mindanao.