To collaboratively deliver agricultural interventions and empower the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on September 17, 2026.
Led by DA Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro and NCIP Ethnographic Commissioner Alex Centena, the MOA signing established a partnership to implement agricultural and fishery development interventions for ICCs/IPs under the DA-Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) Program.
“On behalf of Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., the MOA between the DA through our 4K Program and NCIP is a testament of working together as one government in convergence. The signing of agreement is an important step in strengthening the partnership between the DA and the NCIP and it provides stronger coordination and collaboration between our agencies especially in delivering agricultural programs and services that respond to the needs of our IPs,” Usec. Navarro said.
The DA-4K Program aims at maximizing the potential of ICCs/IP and their ancestral domains in contributing to national food security and uplifting the Indigenous communities through the program’s Social Preparation, Production and Livelihood Support, Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development, and Program Management components.
Based on the MOA, the DA-4K Program shall lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the program. It shall provide appropriate agricultural interventions and capacity-building, ensure meaningful participation of ICCS/IPs, respect their Indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSPs), share relevant project data with the NCIP, and comply with applicable Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) requirements.
The NCIP, on the other hand, shall facilitate the appropriate FPIC process, ensure protection of ICC/IP rights and compliance with NCIP policies, endorse qualified IP organizations, and provide support in social preparation, capacity-building, project monitoring, impact evaluation, and addressing community concerns, while promoting cultural sensitivity.
“Anchored on the Constitution and the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), the NCIP commits to strengthening this partnership through respect for FPIC and Indigenous rights, joint implementation of agricultural programs, cultural sensitivity, protection of IKSPs, and inclusive monitoring and governance. Nais nating maabot ang agrikulturang nagpapakain at nagpapaunlad sa bansa; habang itinataas ang dignidad at kinabukasan ng bawat katutubong Pilipino,” Commissioner Centena expressed on behalf of NCIP Chairperson Nancy Catamco.
Both agencies shall jointly implement and monitor programs for the socio-economic development and resilience of ICCs/IPs, undertake community consultations, profiling and data mapping, provide technical assistance, establish feedback and grievance mechanisms, protect shared data and IKSPs, comply with FPIC requirements, and ensure culturally appropriate project implementation.
“Mula po sa ceremonial signing na ito, ang tunay na hamon ay ang maayos na pagsasakatuparan ng ating mga commitment na nakapaloob sa ating MOA. Umaasa tayo sa patuloy na koordinasyon at pagtutulungan ng DA at NCIP upang maisalin ang kasunduang ito sa kongkretong aksyon at serbisyo para sa ating mga kababayang katutubo,” DA 4K Program Director Gilbert Baltazar highlighting the partnership’s strong and meaningful foundation.
As of August 2026, the DA-4K Program already assisted 256 ancestral domains covering 31,239 hectares and 461 IP organizations, provided 1,464 subprojects, and conducted trainings attended by 58,103 participants. (Gumamela Celes C. Bejarin-Rosas, DA-AFID)
