The smell of fresh coffee beans is in the air in Caraga as the construction of the Green Coffee Bean Processing Facility in Casiklan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte is about to start. This is all thanks to the approval of the Higaonon tribe during the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FCIP) meeting facilitated by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on April 21, 2021.

Representatives from three Indigenous Peoples (IP) groups, Melinda P. Masiste, Beniales B. Dominador, and Antonio T. Manlipayan Jr., signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) which signified a green light to issue the Certificate of Precondition, a document certifying the building of a facility to be issued by the Provincial Government Unit. This document will be given to the Casiklan Wheels Farmers Association Inc. (CAWFAI), the intended beneficiary of the project funded by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).

Representatives from the IP groups signed the memorandum of agreement allowing for the granting of the Certificate of Precondition to begin construction of the coffee facility

“The Department of Agriculture and the local government are here to build a coffee processing plant that will soon be turned over to CAWFAI. This will benefit not only CAWFAI but also the IP’s here in Casiklan,” said Atty. Siegfried A. Auza, NCIP Provincial Legal Officer.

Since a portion of the ancestral domain will be used for the infrastructure, a documented consent is needed from the affected party through a signed MOA.

“The process that we are doing is part of the agreement. This will allow or nullify the construction of the facility based on your decision,” emphasized Andrew M. Salas, NCIP Bueneascar, Acting Community Development Officer.

The IP’s agreed to the provisions stating the acceptance and approval of building a processing center worth P19 million. This will further boost the barangay’s coffee enterprise and increase farmers’ income. Moreover, the MOA stipulates that three signatories will represent the Higaonons in Casiklan, making them responsible for the agreement.

However, it was made clear that the rights given to the signatories are limited only to the present agreement. Another FPIC meeting is needed before the operation kicks off to tackle the terms and conditions of the enterprise and royalties of the Higaonon. The signed MOA will be forwarded to the province then to the region for the issuance of the Pre-Condition Certificate.

DA-PRDP’s Enterprise component or I-REAP head Lynn A. Pareñas witnessed the signing of MOA together with NCIP’s Provincial Legal Officer, Atty. Siegfried A. Auza.

Tribal leader Datu Beniales B. Duminda encouraged his constituents to unify their answer and say yes to the building facility. He believes the project will benefit all the residents of Casiklan including the IP’s since the majority are coffee farmers.

“This will surely pour overflowing opportunities to the tribe and will inspire those who quit coffee farming to get back to business,” Datu Duminda exulted.

According to the 10-year coffee farmer, their 100x100m production area would give an income of P3000. This earns them P7000 per harvest, which lasts for six months. With the processing center, Datu Duminda believes both coffee production and income will increase.

Additionally, some IP’s expressed their gratitude for including them in the whole process.

“We are pleased that they made sure to consult us for the construction of this project. We feel that our tribe has been significant to its realization,” said Bae Thelma C. Makaundag.

In 2020 CAWFAI received a multi-purpose drying pavement, multi-commodity solar tunnel dryer, coffee roaster, grinder, sprayer, hand tractor, grass cutter, and pole pruner from the DA High-Value Commercial Crops Program. This encouraged residents in Casiklan to venture into coffee farming and join the association making it grow from 15 members to 293. With the continued support of the government, CAWFAI is seen to help empower the livelihood in the area. (Zenny G. Awing | RPCO 13)