QUEZON CITY -- “We have to capture and join the journey of the Secretary of Agriculture and the same time the President of our country, His Excellency, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.”

This was a challenge posed by Chairperson Allen A. Capuyan in the service of our people during the celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples held at the Department of Agriculture (DA) today under the Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (DA 4K) Program.

The Chairperson expressed jubilance and savors the fact that the Secretary of Agriculture is at the same time the nation’s President. He emphasized that much of His Excellency’s direction laid down during the President’s SONA will be happening in ancestral domains where the Indigenous Peoples are. He elaborated that when someone talks of food security, arts and culture, build-build-build, eco-tourism or environment, all of these will be happening in the ancestral domains.

Chairperson Capuyan further stressed NCIP’s commitment to the direction of the President, to the direction of the Department of Agriculture, to collaborate, enhance, and undertake actions that will lay out the foundation in enhancing and achieving food security for our country that includes trainings, the (ancestral) lands and making the communities self-govern themselves by being culture sensitive and at the same time by being strong partners of the Government.

The Chairperson shared one hard question when one is used to planning for what is good for people.

“Are our communities, the different sectors of society, are we deliberately and systemically organizing them on the ground for them to be equipped, empowered, capacitated and mobilized to be strong partners of Government for unity, peace, and development?”

In closing, Chairperson Capuyan posits that when the President gives us direction, we should be on a “CID” or “consider-it-done” perspective that accordingly is the President’s by-word. (NCIP)