MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)—In collaboration with the Army’s 58th Infantry ‘Dimalulupig’ Battalion and the local government of Malitbog, the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA)-10 recently conducted a three-day Community Needs Assessment (CNA) in select sub-villages of San Luis, Malitbog, Bukidnon. 

Through its ‘Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks)’ program, the assessment aims to identify agriculture interventions for the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) living in Sitios Tagmaray, Logdeck, Victory, and Uyunan.

DA-10 4Ks Focal Person April Grace Racines said the data will be the basis for the department’s interventions to be implemented in the validated sites.

This DA’s effort she said is also in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 that institutes the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC).

Since the identified areas are known producers of abaca fiber, the DA-Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) also joined in said site validation.

Carlene C. Collado, regional executive director of DA-10, emphasized that the 4Ks is a three-year special project of DA to assist Indigenous Cultural Communities and IPs in the form of agricultural and fisheries-related livelihood opportunities. (DA-10/PIA-10/Bukidnon)