Lantapan, Bukidnon – A housewife in this town who has planted Ube for the last 12 years will supply planting materials for the “Adopt-a-Tribal Family” Program initiated by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
Ube farming is one the livelihood activities which will be introduced to the 150 Ata-Manobo families called the “Lost Tribe” who were discovered by Army Long Range Patrols living in the forests in the tri-boundaries of Davao del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon.
The other income-earning activities for the tribal families are tree farming and the growing of high value coconuts and Abaca.
Sourcing Purple Yam or Ube proved to be a challenge because not very many farmers are producing it.
But thanks to Facebook!
After I posted an article about our search for Purple Ube planting materials, a professor from the Central Mindanao University sent me a message saying that her mother has an Ube farm.
Yesterday, while on the way to Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon, we dropped by Lantapan and checked on the farm.
I met with Teofila Llausas, a housewife who grows Ube in her farm.
After touring her farm, we came to an agreement that she will supply planting materials to our Tribal Family program.
She was happy that she would be getting a good price and ready market for her Ube while we expect the Tribal Families to benefit from her Ube.
Our role was simply linking Mrs. Llausas and the tribal families.
Tomorrow, her Ube tubers will be planted during ceremonies marking the start of a program to improve the lives of marginalized and neglected tribal families in Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
#KungGustoMayParaan!
#MinDALinkingIntegrating!
(Photos by Mayette Tudlas, MinDA OC)
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