The Department of Agriculture-Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (DA-4Ks) Program led the agency’s celebration of the 2024 National and International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples during the opening of the week-long celebration on August 5, 2024.
“Ang okasyong ito ay nagpapaalala sa atin ng ating malawak na cultural heritage, karunungan, at hindi matutumbasan na kontribusyon ng mga katutubo sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo. Ating bigyang pagpupunyagi at paggalang ang mahahalagang tungkulin ng ating mga katutubong magsaska at mangingisda ng ating bansa,” DA Undersecretary for High Value Crops Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said on behalf of Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr.
With this year’s theme, “Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact,” the annual celebration of the National and International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9 aims at advancing the rights and collective well-being of indigenous peoples.
During the opening ceremony, the DA officials and DA-4Ks Program Director Lucia Campomanes recognized the Usbong Katutubo Indigenous Peoples Agricultural Cooperative with an “Exemplary Indigenous Peoples Organization Award” for their outstanding dedication and accomplishments in their ancestral domain.
“Ang mga grupong kagaya nila ay isang pagpapatunay ng matagumpay na Kababayang Katutubo Program at ngayon ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga malalaking korporasyon. This achievement celebrates the resilience and dedication of indigenous communities and serves as an inspiring example of what we can achieve given the right support and opportunities,” Undersecretary Natividad-Caballero said.
The DA-4Ks also recognized the Rotary Club Philippines, San Miguel Food Corporation, and the Chareon Pokphand Foods Philippines – Food Security Filipinas Incorporation, and key government agencies including the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the DA Regional Field Offices as program partners.
“Ang patuloy na pagtulong sa ating mga kababayang katutubo ay nagsisimula po sa tanggapan katulong ang iba’t ibang programa ng DA. Hindi po namin ito sariling programa para sa katutubo. Ito po ay programa ng DA kaya po tayo sama-sama at nakikiisa para sa selebrasyon ng mahalagang araw para po sa ating pagtulong at pag-alaala para sa ating mga kababayang katutubo,” Director Campomanes said.
The DA-4Ks is a locally funded special program of the DA with the mission of improving the competitiveness of indigenous people farming communities to increase their productivity and income through agri-based enterprises. It has the following components: Social Preparation, Production and Livelihood, Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development, and Project Management. To know more about DA-4Ks, visit 4ks.da.gov.ph or facebook.com/DA4KProgram. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)
