The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA-RFO 02), through the GCF-Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) Project, in partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Isabela, conducted a two-day “Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) Consultation Meeting” on September 21-22, 2026 in Barangay, Ibujan and Libertad, San Mariano Isabela, respectively.
The FPIC process provided Indigenous Peoples with complete, transparent, culturally appropriate, and accessible information regarding the APA Project, including its objectives, proposed interventions, expected benefits, potential environmental and social impacts, and mechanisms for community participation. The process also created an avenue for the Indigenous communities to raise concerns, validate community priorities, seek clarifications, and freely deliberate in accordance with their customary decision-making practices before providing their collective consent.
Following extensive consultations and dialogue, the Indigenous Peoples of San Mariano, Isabela expressed their Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, signifying their support for the implementation of the APA Project within their respective ancestral domains. Their consent reflects a shared commitment to advancing climate-resilient agriculture while ensuring that development initiatives respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights, cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and self-determined development priorities.
The FPIC activities were facilitated by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02-Regional Project Management Office (RPMO) Staff, in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) headed by Ms. Devine L. Acoba, Community Development Officer III and Mr. Nielvin A. Agustin, Community Affairs Officer I.
The APA Project continues to strengthen the resilience of farming communities by integrating climate adaptation, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion into agricultural development. Through strong collaboration among government agencies, local government units, Indigenous Peoples, farmers’ organizations, and development partners, the project contributes to building resilient agricultural systems and advancing a more sustainable and food-secure future for the Philippines. As a way forward from the FPIC activity, the agreement reached during the activity will be included in the Memorandum of Agreement.
Via Rayward S. Carlos