Culture

1. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD)
FIELD OFFICE MIMAROPA
September 8, 2020
Cyrine Rongco, Information Officer, Social Marketing Unit
io.dswdfo4bpantawid@gmail.com | (+63) 997 603 8849
For release
GETTING THROUGH THE STORM
Mindoro is one of the most promising agricultural provinces in the country. Aside from being one of the
major producers of rice, the island also yields many crops that vary from highland, lowland, root crops,
among others. The fertile soil and rainy climate not only provide good quality of produce but also allowed
the people to prosper in terms of agricultural and social advancement.
However, as many progress, others find it hard to get by. One of them is Nanay Juaning Kabato, 61, who
belongs to the Mangyan Iraya indigenous group. The Iraya tribe is a group of Indigenous People (IP) living
in a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) that capitalizes on agricultural activities as
their main source of food supply and livelihood. Her tribe is located at Sitio Barogante in Barangay
Alacaak, Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro. Iraya’s yields vary from rice, banana, beans, sweet potato, and
other root crops that are mostly grown in Occidental Mindoro.
Nanay Juaning’s family relies on their produce as sustenance for her family. She has two kids, Erwin and
Lia. Both go to school through the Alternative Learning System (ALS). Her husband, on the other hand,
depends on kaingin to support their family.
Despite many opportunities the land may offer, the area is prone to typhoons. In fact, in a year, at least
four to five typhoons pass by the area. The typhoons not only devastated homes, but worse, affected
crops, damaged yield, and distressed their livelihood in general.
A test of resiliency
One typhoon that Nanay Juaning recalls is Typhoon Josie which nearly devastated almost half of her crops
last July 2018. She mentioned that the typhoon uprooted several of her crops and soaked some of her
stored produce.
But the Iraya is known for resiliency. For them, the typhoon is merely but a challenge to overcome. More
so, right after the typhoon, she collected whatever was left of her crops and started again. She gathered
the seeds that can be reused and replanted it.
Days after the typhoon, Nanay Juaning’s farms started to prosper again. Sprouts from the replanted seeds
were seen and buds another hope for her family. Though half of her farm was destroyed, Nanay Juaning
never lost courage.
Budding Hope for Nanay Juaning
In good faith, after a year, the DSWD, in partnership with several government agencies, assisted Modified
Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) beneficiaries like Nanay Juaning and 20 other members of her tribe to
recover from the damages brought by Typhoon Josie. Innovations in farming were introduced to the Iraya
tribe.

2. Under the DSWD’s Sustaining Support Services Intervention (SSI) project, training on modern farming was
conducted. It includes skills training on different root crop propagation, strategies to prevent pest
manifestation, and modern techniques in rice production. Moreover, training on organic fertilizer
production was provided which can help Nanay Juaning and her tribe lessen their operational expense.
Apart from the training, supplemental seedlings were also provided.
Nanay Juaning used the assistance to improve her farm and stand again after being struck by the
typhoon. Now, she and her tribe boast many crops from their farm such as banana, ginger, rice, corn,
vegetables, and notably—grapes. Likewise, the Iraya tribe became more persistent to further learn about
innovations in farming.
Presently, Nanay Juaning’s yields can support their family in terms of food supply, but she sees the farm
produce as an opportunity to later on earn additional income. If the profit from her produce turns well,
she plans to expand their farm and explore other crops to propagate. ###
The Iraya tribe starts to rebuild their farms after
the typhoon.
Nanay Juaning and some members of the Iraya
tribe convene during the DSWD’s skills training on
modern farming.