7 minute read
Area Management
The Area Management Office (AMO) oversees programs, projects, and activities in concerned areas. The Office also serves as a liaison unit with various sectors, government agencies, governmentowned and controlled corporations within the respective areas.
There are four (4) Area Management Offices: South Central Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Northeastern Mindanao, and Western Mindanao.
Advertisement
The bulk of the Area Offices’ efforts is focused on the establishment of Integrated Area Development (IAD), lead in the coordination and implementation of the Balik Probinsya, technical and advisory support, and linkages with the Local Government Units and sectoral groups in their areas of concern. BALIK PROBINSYA, BAGONG PAG-ASA PROGRAM (BP2), KAUSWAGAN, LANAO DEL NORTE AND KALAWIT, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE.
The Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa Program (BP2), pushed by Senator Lawrence Christopher “Bong” Go, is the government’s initiative to decongest the urban centers of informal dwellers from the provinces and create jobs, food production, and economic activities in the countryside seen to transform the country’s economy from being serviceoriented to production-oriented. As the coordinating and implementing agency for the BP2 Program in Mindanao, the AMO-NM and the Mindanao Development Authority initially identified the Bagong Pag-Asa Organic Village in Kauswagan, Lanao del Sur, and a site in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte as two of the pilot resettlement areas. Two hundred quadruplex-type housing units will be constructed in the 6.3 hectare land in Kauswagan. Organic vegetables and organic chicken raising with complete production value chain facilities are two of the initial livelihood programs identified for the first 200 families to be relocated to the site.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go attended the local launch of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa at the Bagong Pag-Asa Village in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte on November 24, 2020 with a ceremonial turnover of funds for housing assistance to BP2 beneficiaries. AMO-Western Mindanao coordinated and facilitated the financial assistance intended for the pilot site’s social preparation in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte. Consequently, the Kalawit Sustainable Agri-Tourism Development Plan workshop was facilitated consistent with the implementation of the BP2 Program.
IN FIGURES
200 3 50,000
families targeted to be relocated in MinDAidentified BP2 relocation sites Integrated Area Development clusters in Mindanao as a part of MinDA’s pandemic response efforts
hectares of rich soil dedicated for the IMTASULA (Impasugong, Talakag, Sumilao, Lantapan) Complex which is projected to be a high-value crop production and processing area
complement government efforts to address the pandemic’s adverse impact on development, the Integrated Area Development was carried this year. Three (3) initial IAD clusters were determined, such as the IMTASULA (Impasugong, Talakag, Sumilao, Lantapan) in Bukidnon, Taraka IAD, and the MANLUNA Cluster (Manticao, Lugait, Naawan) in Misamis Oriental.
IMTASULA Complex has about 50,000 hectares of rich soil at an elevation of 1,200 meters above sea level. It is projected to be developed into a significant vegetable and high-value crop production and processing area.
MinDA currently facilitates Local Government Units complementation and resource-pooling to increase the productivity of IMTASULA and provide the area with the needed critical infrastructure such as irrigation systems both solar-powered and hydraulic ram pump as well as access to farm to market roads. MinDA envisions IMTASULA as a significant vegetable and high-value crop producing and processing area.
The Program will have components on institutional and capacity building, strengthening agricultural production, processing, marketing, and value chain development, improving socioeconomic and small rural community infrastructure and, policy advocacy and enabling environment for rural productivity and private sector growth.
On December 10-12, the first Mindanao Vegetable Derby was held in Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon, which aims to recognize the best high-value vegetable crops, including carrots, Chinese cabbage, and cabbage, which were grown by the Local Government Units of Impasug-ong, Talakag, Sumilao, Lantapan (IMTASULA) with the assistance of six (6) major seed companies including Ramgo, EastWest, Kaneko, Seed Works, Green Seeds, and Allied Botanicals.
In the same event, marketing deals were facilitated between Ultramar, a supermarket chain in Cebu and JD Powers, a start-up trading and export firm based in Makati. The two companies signed agreements with farmers’ groups to guide them on the varieties of vegetables in demand in the market and in growing organic cabbage for “Kimchi” production and carrots for Carrot Juice in cans.
TARAKA IAD. Under the oversight of the Area Management Office-Northern Mindanao, the Taraka Integrated Area Development project was implemented with an initial of eight (8) livelihood projects. The Taraka LGU loan application with DBP was also approved, and will be used to fund the Solar-Powered Irrigation System and the SolarPowered Water System.
MANLUNA CLUSTER (MANTICAO, LUGAIT,
NAAWAN) MISAMIS ORIENTAL. MinDA
facilitated a planning workshop for MANLUNA to determine the programs and projects that will significantly impact the quality of life of ordinary households. On August 20, 2020, seven (7) project proposals were drafted, and were submitted for further enhancement to meet the requirements of the banking institutions.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MINDANAO
WATER SUPPLY PROGRAM. Eight (8) barangays
of Paglat, Maguindanao completed the water supply program under the Mindanao Water Supply Program.
The establishment of the Marbel-Buluan Watershed Alliance was completed this year, ensuring a platform of discussion, integration, and facilitation to protect the watershed and avoid flooding of the downstream during torrentuous rain due to climate change.
MinDA assisted the Metro Kidapawan Water District in crafting the 25-year Master Plan to ensure potable water to 300,000 residents of the city and its neighboring areas. The Master Plan will include the protection and preservation of water sources found at the foot of Mt. Apo and create an accurate projection of the city’s water needs based on its population growth. MinDA provided technical and funding support amounting to Php500,000.
The AMO-South Central Mindanao also actively participated in the 4th Mindanao River Basin Management Council Meeting’s preparation and conduct, where discussions focused on preparations against severe flooding incidents in Cotabato Province and the rest of Central Mindanao.
AMO-Western Mindanao is instrumental in the passage and approval of the resolution to the Zamboanga City Development Council for the Tumaga River Basin Flood Control Project and the revival and inclusion of the River Basin Organization in the Zamboanga Peninsula Watershed Management and Development Plan.
AMO-WM actively participated in and assisted the Tagum-Libuganon River Basin Technical Working Group.
MINDANAO FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT
(MINFAD). AMO-Northeastern Mindanao coordinated and facilitated the 1st Agri-Fishery Summit in Davao Oriental, a strategic undertaking in response to Davao Oriental Provincial LGU to identify gaps and opportunities to improve the productivity of the agri-fishery sector of the province.
AMO-Western Mindanao assisted in the preparation leading to the endorsement of the Municipality of Pitogo for the establishment of Pitogo Fish Depot, Municipality of Olutanga for purchase of lot area for the establishment and construction of solar-powered ice plant and component facilities, and the Olutanga ice-maker and cold-storage facility.
ADOPT-A-TRIBAL FAMILY PROGRAM.
The Program aims to transform Davao del Norte indigenous communities into model self-reliant agriculture development areas building on their Indigenous Knowledge, Systems and Practices (IKSP) through sharing to the community the traditional and modern agricultural farming and providing the opportunity to earn income without altering cultural identity and beliefs.
AMO-Northeastern Mindanao facilitated the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between MinDA, TESDA, and the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte, as well as bringing in support of other government agencies including DOLE, DSWD, NCIP, DTI, DA, DPWH, NHA, CHED, DEPED, DAR, DENR, and the AFP.
MINDANAO FOOD SUPPLY AND
DEMAND MAP. The CARAGA Agri-Business Council Forum, which was co-organized by the AMO-Northeastern Mindanao and attended by significant industry players, consider the strengthening of the agriculture and fishery sector including high-value crops to ensure food stability as a response to the adverse impact of the pandemic, as well as ensure food supply during periods of natural calamities and man-made disasters.
The Area Management Offices also linked and networked with LGUs within their areas of concern to facilitate the purchase of food in excess of an LGU, with LGU needing to avoid food shortage during lockdown due to the pandemic.
