An estimated 1,000 calamansi seedlings were turned over by Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) to the indigenous people (IP) community of Sitio Cabuan, Barangay Ocayan in Bataraza, Palawan.
An estimated 1,000 calamansi seedlings were turned over by Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) to the indigenous people (IP) community of Sitio Cabuan, Barangay Ocayan in Bataraza, Palawan.
According to RTNMC community development organizer Jenny Dela Vega, the move aims to support the revival of backyard gardening and to attain food sufficiency during the pandemic in the IP community.
Dela Vega said the growing process and cost of maintenance will be the counterpart of around 200 households in Ocayan as beneficiaries.
“This move would help to instill project ownership and accountability to beneficiaries,” she said.
The company allotted P50,000 from its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) and each household will have five seedlings to maintain and cultivate as their livelihood’s source.
“Since nagkaroon ng pandemic, hindi sila puwedeng magtanim bilang isang asosasyon. Ang nangyari dyan ay per individual, per household. Ang target nyan ay nasa 100 lang pero nagdagdag pa sila ng 100 kaya naging five seedlings na per household (ang hatian). Diyan lang sa backyard nila, kung may lupa man sila, diyan na lang sa sarili nila,” she said.
The community shifted to calamansi farming after they encountered a problem with the water sources for their vegetable plantation before.
She added that the community would enjoy the benefits of calamansi as soon as it grows within a short period of time.
The community will harvest the fruits after a few months if they would cultivate and supervise the maintenance of the plants.
