CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Agriculture in Central Luzon is continuously providing sustainable livelihood assistance to indigenous peoples (IPs) in Pampanga.
Various fruit-bearing trees and vegetable seeds were distributed to the indigenous peoples cooperative, Ugnayan sa Pag-unlad ng Tarik Inc. (UPTI), in Barangay Villa Maria, Porac town.
This is under the DA’s “Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran Para sa Kababayang Katutubo” (4Ks) program that could help turn the IPs’ ancestral agricultural lands into productive and resilient agricultural enterprises.
Regional 4Ks focal person Memito Luyun III said on Wednesday the program is the agency's direct intervention that aims to address the needs of the IP communities through livelihood and food production programs.
Last June 13, the UPTI cooperative members also received 450 chickens for the livestock-raising component of the 4Ks.
Aside from tree and vegetable planting and livestock raising and production, Luyun said the IPs are also set to receive other 4Ks project components this year such as farm tools and equipment and the corresponding capacity-building training.
Other IP cooperatives and organizations in the province that received livelihood provision are the Mt. Ginilan Agricultural Cooperative in Barangay Mawakat, Floridablanca; Samasama sa Kaunlaran Para sa Pagsulong ng Barangay Ayta Inararo, Inc. in Barangay Inararo, Porac; and the Usbong Katutubo Indigenous Peoples Agriculture Cooperative in Barangay Camias, also in Porac.
To ensure sustainability and cultural sensitivity, Luyun said all 4Ks programs went through the principles laid down by NCIP’s pioneering Integrated Ancestral Domains Development Approach. (PNA)