Representatives of the Alangan Mangyan Community and other key stakeholders were interviewed through focus group discussions and key informant interviews on March 6-7, 2023.
Conducted by the Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), the activity explored possible entry points in establishing an impact community in the Alangan Mangyan community in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.
SERD is implementing the project, "Establishing the DOST-PCAARRD Impact Communities [DOST-PCAARRD Para sa Pamayanan (3Ps)],” with Ms. Princess Alma B. Ani as project leader.
The project is in collaboration with the Mindoro State University's (MinSU) “S&T Community-Based for Inclusive Development (STC4iD) on Livelihood Improvement of Mangyan Communities in Mindoro through Science and Technology (S&T) Interventions'' project, as well as the local NGO partner, Pampamayanang Mangyan Ugnayan Inc. (PMUI). It aims to establish impact communities in selected agro-ecological environments. These communities will serve as examples to demonstrate the impacts of the interventions undertaken by DOST-PCAARRD.
The 3Ps Team, together with MinSU and PMUI, paid a courtesy call to Mayor Joselito C. Malabanan of Victoria, Oriental Mindoro. Hon. Malabanan assured the team of his administration's support for the project and committed to providing any necessary data to assess which interventions would benefit the community. The team conducted interviews with several key individuals, including: Mr. Rey Mercado, Head of the Municipal Tourism Office and also the Mangyan Affairs Officer; Ms. Mary Rheis Jenn Fontanilla, Agricultural Technologist at the Municipal Agriculturist Office; Canaan Barangay Captain Isagani Ortega; and PMUI Director Juvelyn Gumal-in.
The team also conducted focus group discussions with the Alangan Mangyan in Barangay Canaan, dividing them into three groups: men, women, and youth. The discussions aimed to assess their current situation, build the community profile, and explore existing institutional support systems for the Alangan Mangyan.
In addition, the team performed transect walks and resource mapping at the farm site used by the Alangan Mangyan in Barangay Bambanin and at their housing site in Barangay Canaan.
Based on the conducted activities, the team identified several AANR interventions that can be introduced to the Alangan Mangyan community in Canaan. Specifically, the team recommended the introduction of livestock farming and aquaculture, as well as crop diversification in their upland farm for improved resiliency. These findings will serve as basis for developing the 3Ps and STC4iD Teams’ Technology Action Plan.
After introducing interventions in the Alangan Mangyan community in Victoria, it will be established as a DOST-PCAARRD impact community by the 3Ps team. With the assistance of local partners, outcomes and impacts will be monitored continuously even after the project's completion to showcase the full effects of DOST-PCAARRD interventions.
The 3Ps project started on May 1, 2022 and will end on December 31, 2023.
