Mapaso Indigenous community looks to a sustainable future
Santiago, Agusan del Norte / March 2018 – “By 2020, all our efforts will pay off when we start harvesting the crops,” said an enthusiastic Raymond Pasquita Moron, Indigenous Peoples Organization (IPO) Chairman of the Mamanwa Mapaso Tribal Sectoral Organization of Barangay La Paz, Santiago Municipality of this province. The IP leader likewise expressed his motivation as he took refuge from the hot sun in the community farm’s bunk house, taking a pause after making his rounds of inspecting the crops along the rolling hills.
To sustain the development of their community farm, the organization implemented its portion of the Community Resource Development Program (CRDP) co-developed by the tribe and Agata Mining Ventures Inc. (AMVI), a joint nickel laterite project of TVI Resource Development Inc. (TVIRD) and MRL Nickel Philippines Inc. The CRDP is funded every quarter and is designed and implemented specifically for the local IP sector in order for them to realize the full potential of their royalty share over the long-term.
Aside from the Mamanwas of Mapaso, three other IPOs are also on the road to sustainable development through their respective CRDPs: the Coro Mamanwa Tribal Organization of Barangay Colorado, Jabonga Municipality; the Ayrag Mamanwa Tribal Management Organization (AMTMO) and the Agata Mamanwa Tribal Organization (AMTO) in Barangay E. Morgado – both in Santiago Municipality.
Achieving sustainability
Albert Plasquita Moron, tribal council member and project head, manages the community farm and regularly checks the young seedlings. On his part, younger brother Raymond also conducts weekly visits to check their needs as well as assist in grass clearing and the general upkeep of the facilities.
Across more than 23 hectares, the Mapaso IPs have planted a wide variety of cash crops and trees since its establishment in November 2015 to date: cacao (8,400), coffee (1,300), rubber (900), falcata (8,300), mahogany (6,000), abaca (7,000), durian (90), and dozens of rambutan, mangosteen, lanzones, and pomelo seedlings. Among these, Agata directly provided over 700 seedlings for the Mapaso community farm.
In addition, the tribe is also preparing the area for vegetables such as cucumber, ampalaya, eggplant, squash and tomato, among others. Albert said that eventually they won’t have to go to the market anymore when their vegetable garden becomes sustainable enough to provide for the needs of their members. And when that day comes, the Mapaso IPs will have achieved sustainability.
Beyond mining
“The company’s CRDP really helped a lot. Without it, we will never be able to operate at this level since we also have to fend for ourselves,” Raymond said. He added that they are very grateful to the company that their dream of bringing lasting development to the Mapaso sector is now being realized, thanks to their royalty share.
Agata’s Community Relations Superintendent Jonathan Bañez said that with the livelihood program initiated by the Mapaso IPs, the tribe is assured of development that goes beyond Agata’s mining operations.
“The royalty that is being given to the IPs can be seen as a start-up capital for sustainable development that will benefit future generations,” Bañez added.
An end to need
A significant impact fostered by the project is the creation of employment opportunities for its community members. The organization currently employs over 20 laborers to work in the farm, each receiving a competitive daily wage of Php300.
Raymond emphasized that he needs to ensure productivity and that his only requirement is that employees work diligently. If some employees cannot handle the work, then he is willing to hire others regardless of whether they are IPs or not.
“If we don’t have any discipline among ourselves, then our project is bound for failure,” added older brother Albert.
Sowing the seeds
To reach the area – and since the connecting bridge was destroyed years ago – one has to cross Kalinawan River from Purok 8 in Barangay La Paz. Then upon reaching the river bank, it is a 1.5-hour uphill trek in order to reach the farm itself.
While access to the community farm is rather challenging, Raymond is positive that all their efforts will eventually pay off. He even dreams of establishing a community within the farm as it becomes more productive and will need more people to maintain it.
Raymond said that they looking forward to the future when their project is efficient enough that they won’t need to anxiously wait for the release of their royalty. Albert even added in jest that the company can then release their royalty on an annual basis.
Both brothers are fully aware that mining is not forever. Nonetheless, the entire Mamanwa Mapaso Tribal Sectoral Organization is just preparing for the inevitable so that their future generations can still reap from the hard work of their ancestors – seeds that they have planted today.
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