NCIP approves ANI’s rice-corn production project

MANILA, Philippines — AgriNurture Inc. (ANI), a  company chaired by businessman Antonio Tiu, has obtained the green light from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) – Region XI for its rice-corn production project.

The project is in partnership with the Unified Bagobo Tagabawa Tribe (UBTT) of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato.

In a letter signed by NCIP chairman Allen Capuyan, the NCIP approved the Certification Precondition (CP) for ANI rice-corn project to be operational in UBTT ancestral domain, particularly in Barangays Binaton and Goma, Digos City, Davao del Sur.

“We are deeply grateful to the NCIP led by chairman Capuyan for recognizing the importance of this rice-corn project – a key component of President Duterte’s food security policy and investment thrust for indigenous peoples,” UBTT said in a statement.

Tiu earlier inked a memorandum of agreement with UBTT to plant rice-corn in some 10,000 hectares of ancestral lands in the province.

With the approval, proponents hope to finally jumpstart the project.

The UBTT also appealed to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to provide much-needed financial support to the massive undertaking.

The unified tribe  is reaching out to DBP president Emmanuel Herbosa to provide the needed agricultural loan facility to ANI to finally establish and operationalize this food project.

“We’re hopeful and expectant that President Herbosa will fasttrack the process since ANI has already complied with the bank’s loan requirements. President Duterte has instructed government financial institutions to provide funding support (by way of loans) to make these kinds of projects a reality,” UBTT said.

The group said DBP’s support is critical to ensure the success of the project, envisioning to create as much as 10,000 jobs and livelihood to the entire ancestral domain once fully operational.

“The Tribe also appreciates the help extended by DBP VP Annie Veloso and her team whose silent yet ostensible effort and hard work is instrumental to the timely completion of technical and field work components of the process,” UBTT said.