SAN AGUSTIN, Pili, Camarines Sur—“Yes na yes kami sa programa kan 4Ks dahil additional income ini samuya (It is a yes to the 4K Program because this is an additional source of income for us),“ Tribal Chieftain Alicia M. Rabulan.

226 IP families of Barangay Mabini, Donsol, Sorsogon attended the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) activity of the Department of Agriculture-Bicol under its 4Ks Program. The FPIC was conducted recently at the Barangay Tribal Hall, Mabini, Donsol, Sorsogon in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

“Sisay man baya an matalikod sa tabang nin gobyerno (No one is going to turn his back from help of the government),” says Agta Tabangnon-Cimarron Nerissa M. Loremia.

The IP community of barangay Mabini will soon receive interventions from the DA Bicol through its Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks) Program.

The said community will receive a greenhouse worth Php250,000.00, garden tools, assorted vegetable seeds, seedlings, two carabaos, 229 chickens and biologics, a gilt and animal feeds. They will also participate in trainings on high value crops, livestock and poultry production; and will be assisted in the establishment of a community garden.

During the conduct of the FPIC, the IPs of barangay Mabini agreed and signed their consent to accept agricultural assistance and farm inputs to improve their livelihood and income.

According to 4K Program Assistant Focal Person Engr. Danicris Orcio, DA Bicol will allocate P2.5M for the barangays of San Antonio, Guiron, Banuyo in Pilar and barangays San Francisco, Pangpang and Mabini in Donsol, Sorsogon. Loremia assured the representatives of DA Bicol and NCIP that her tribal community will value and use efficiently the assistance from the government especially the DA.

The 4K program is a national program intended to empower and develop the IP communities with ancestral domains to be developed ancestral lands into food production areas. It is being implemented in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon and is anchored on the Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 recognizes, protects and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples. (Jayson M. Gonzales)