LIFE UP Mindanao

22/12/2025

LOOK | Farmer partners in Barangay Taglibas, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay visited model farms in Barangay Datu Tumanggong, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay

On November 26, 2025, the farmer partners in the second site in Zamboanga Sibugay (Barangay Taglibas, Tungawan) underwent an inspirational cross-visit activity where they visited model farms as part of the project interventions. The activity aimed to inspire farmer partners in what they could do for their livelihood improvement and provide them with a glimpse of the succeeding activities that the project will implement. The farmer partners visited a tilapia farm and the demo farm of the Datu Tumanggong Life Farmers Association (farmer partners in the first site of the project in Zamboanga Sibugay) in Barangay Datu Tumanggong, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay. The farmer partners interacted with each other, where they shared and learned experiences in farming.

The activity was successfully conducted through the collaboration with Mr. Hassim Basso (Tilapia Farm Owner) and DATULIFA for the venue for learning for the farmer partners. It was also made possible through the active participation of the farmer partners, the support of Ms. Zoraida T. Pulalon (Agriculture Technologist and High Value Crops Development Program Coordinator of Municipal Agriculture Office of Tungawan), and the facilitation of the UP Mindanao LIFE site facilitators (Mr. Kristoffer Nasam and Mr. Tobias Niño Ballener).

21/11/2025

Look | Farmers Field School (FFS) commenced in Barangay Datal Bob, Tboli, South Cotabato on November 19, 2025

The Farmers Field School (FFS) Launching for the farmer-partners, Maguindanaon–Tboli Diversified Agricultural Association, took place on November 19, 2025. This was held at the Demo Farm of the farmer-partners in Barangay Datal Bob, Tboli, South Cotabato
The event brought together partner agencies and stakeholders who expressed strong support and commitment to helping farmers achieve their development objectives. Present in the activity are:

Mr. Raymond Fel F. Sajor, Regional Director, DOLE Region 12
Engr. Romerico P. Carrasco, Provincial Director, DOLE South Cotabato
Mr. Leo Castillo, Agriculturist, Tboli Municipal Agriculture Office
Mr. Marlon Tiwan, CATCH-UP
Mr. Alifa Ampatuan, M**F Provincial Chairman, Ala Political Committee
Mr. Alex Talaguia, M**F Municipal Chairman, Tboli Political Committee
Mr. Mamison Minalin, President, Ala Farmers Power Association
Ma’am Sinundingan Macabuat, PD03, DSWD-12

The Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU), led by Barangay Captain Berlinda M. Derilon, also attended and showed full support for the activity.

The event was a success, showcasing the strong partnership among government agencies, local leaders, and farmer organizations in advancing agricultural productivity and empowering farmers in the community.

20/11/2025

LOOK | Farmer Field School Commenced in Barangay Namuken, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte on 18 November 2025

The Farmer Field School, main capacity-building intervention of the UP Mindanao LIFE Project, commenced last 18 November 2025 in Barangay Namuken, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte. This is a months-long activity where the farmer-partners will undergo series of training session on Vegetable Production, which are a mix of lectures, actual farm demonstrations, and market exposure activities.

During the activity, the farmer-partners have also undergone FFS Module 1 session on Climate Change and Basic Knowledge on Vegetable Gardening Production.

The FFS Module 1 session was conducted by the resource person from the Municipal MAFAR Office, Ms. Nur Azlina I. Abdulsamad (Agricultural Technician) and Mr. Bandao Bansilan (Agriculturist I). The FFS Launching was also attended by various institutional partners from MLGU Sultan Mastura, Hon. Sadat Odin, and BLGU Namuken, Hon. Muhajiren Ibrahim. The activity was facilitated by the UP Mindanao site facilitators, Mr. Samanodin Miskinan and Mr. Johaille Hassan.

The activity was successful with the participation of the institutional partners and farmer-partners.

13/11/2025

LOOK | Organizational Development Session in Barangay Taglibas, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay

On November 5, 2025, farmer-partners in Barangay Taglibas, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay, completed an Organizational Development Session. The training focused on the process and importance of acquiring a legal identity for their organization. Key activities included learning the duties of officers, holding an election, and collaboratively developing and presenting their group's vision and mission.

The activity was made possible through UP Mindanao LIFE Project, Department of Labor and Employment Region 9, local government unit, M**F community leaders, and the active participation of the farmer-partners. The training was conducted by Michael Vincent Macrohon (Senior Labor and Employment Officer of DOLE-Zamboanga Sibugay) and facilitated by the UP Mindanao LIFE site facilitators, Mr. Kristoffer Nasam and Mr. Tobias Niño Ballener. Present also during the activity are Ms. Zoaraida T. Pulalon (Agriculture Technologist and High Value Crops Development Program Coordinator of Municipal Agriculture Office of Tungawan) and Prof. Aurelia Luzminda V. Gomez, PhD (Program/Project Leader, UP Mindanao LIFE 2/Project 1).

13/11/2025

LOOK | Ceremonial Turnover of the DOST-CEST Program Grant to Barangay Datu Tumanggong and Datu Tumanggong Life Farmers Association (DATULIFA)

The UP Mindanao LIFE project’s partners—Barangay Datu Tumanggong and DATULIFA—are recipients of a DOST-Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program. The receipt of this grant was made possible with the assistance and facilitation of the project. On 3 November 2025, the DOST-CEST Program grant amounting to PHP 482,950 was turned over to Barangay Datu Tumanggong and DATULIFA during the Forum on the DOST’s Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Program of DOST IX (PSTO-ZSP).

In the photo (from left) are Mr. John Kenneth D. Cabral (OIC-PSTO Director and Supervising Science Research Specialist, PSTO-ZSP), Prof. Aurelia Luzminda V. Gomez, PhD (Program/Project Leader, UP Mindanao LIFE 2/Project 1), Hon. Daniel L. Balanda (Chairperson, Barangay Datu Tumanggong), Mr. Abdulmin A. Hassan (President, DATULIFA), and Ms. Jeyzel P. Aparri (Senior Science Research Specialist, PSTO-ZSP).

03/11/2025

LOOK | Inspirational Cross-Visit of Namuken Farmers Association (NFA) at P&A Integrated Farm

The Namuken Farmers Association (NFA) farmer-partners from Barangay Namuken, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte, participated in an Inspirational Cross-Visit to the P&A Integrated Farm in Pacao, Alamada, Cotabato, on October 25, 2025.

The visit exposed the farmers to various farming practices, providing inspiration and technical knowledge that will be beneficial for the demonstration farm they are preparing to establish for the upcoming Farmer Field School. They learned the importance of diversified farming in food security and poverty alleviation, as well as the use of biological controls and organic fertilizers to keep soil fertility and reduce the cost and use of expensive inorganic fertilizers.

We want to express our deep gratitude to Sir Adam O. Evaresto, the Municipal MAFAR Officer of Sultan Mastura, and Hon. Muhajireen Ebrahim, the Barangay Chairman of Namuken, for their invaluable support and presence during the activity. We are also thankful to the members of the Namuken Farmers Association (NFA) for their participation and cooperation, which made the activity a success. The activity was facilitated by the UP Mindanao LIFE site facilitators, Mr. Johaille Hassan and Samanodin Miskinan.

03/11/2025

LOOK | An Inspirational Cross-Visit organized for farmer-partners of the Maguindanaon-T’boli Diversified Agriculture Association (MTDAA) from Barangay Datal Bob, T’boli, South Cotabato, took place on October 23, 2025.

The MTDAA members visited the DA Research Outreach Station in Bololmala, Tupi, South Cotabato, where they were exposed to diverse and innovative farming practices. The MTDAA members toured several sections of the Research Outreach Station, including the Coffee Production, Lowland Vegetable, Vermicast Production, and Food Processing areas. Key practical skills demonstrated included grafting fruit trees and producing vermicast and foliar fertilizers. This hands-on experience serves as a crucial source of inspiration and learning, which the farmers will apply in establishing their demonstration farm for the upcoming Farmer Field School.

This knowledge-sharing initiative was successfully facilitated through the collaborative efforts of the UP Mindanao LIFE Phase 2 Program and the Department of Agriculture Region 12. The activity was facilitated by the UP Mindanao LIFE site facilitators, Mr. Evjar Sandigan and Mr. Mohamer Macabangin.

21/10/2025

LOOK | Farmer-partners in Barangay Datal Bob, T’boli, South Cotabato, underwent an Organizational Development Session on 16 October 2025

The UP Mindanao LIFE Program, in close partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 12 South Cotabato Field Office, guided the farmers through a crucial session where they:
• Discussed the importance of legal identity and DOLE registration to access various government programs.
• Named their group: Maguindanaon-T’boli Diversified Agriculture Association.
• Elected their set of officers.

The activity was made successful through the support and expertise of the DOLE South Cotabato Field Office resource persons, led by Ms. Marlene Zaragoza (Senior Labor and Employment Officer / Livelihood Focal), together with Ms. Myla Grace Yara (Labor and Employment Officer II / Focal for RWA) and Ms. Nikka Mae Javier (Livelihood Development Specialist). The event was facilitated by UP Mindanao LIFE Program site facilitators, Mr. Mohamer Macabangin and Mr. Evjar Sandigan. The active involvement of BLGU officials and farmer-partners in Datal Bob played a significant role in the success of the activity.

14/10/2025

LOOK | Organizational Development Session in Barangay Namuken, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte on 07 October 2025

The UP Mindanao LIFE Program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), successfully conducted an organizational development session for the farmer-partners in Barangay Namuken, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte. The activity took place at the Namuken Multipurpose Hall on October 7, 2025.

Our farmer-partners learned the importance of legal identity and the steps for MOLE registration. During the activity, they also elected a set of officers and selected the name of their association, "Namuken Farmers Association."

The activity was made possible by the resource person from the MOLE, led by Mr. Maynard S. Jamolod (Chief Labor and Employment Officer), with his team, Mr. Hamsa G. Nul (MOLE Maguindanao Field Office Head), Ms. Bainalyn G. Pandacan, and Ms. Baidina Balindong (Administrative Assistant). They were joined by the representatives from MAFAR Municipal Office of Sultan Mastura, Ms. Nur Azlina Abdulsamad (Agricultural Technician), and Ms. Rahila S. Kasuyo (Aquaculturist). The activity was facilitated by the UP Mindanao LIFE Program site facilitators, Mr. Samanodin Miskinan and Mr. Johaille Hassan. The participation of the BLGU officials and farmer-partners in Namuken has also made the activity successful.

13/10/2025

The UP Mindanao Livelihood Improvement through Facilitated Extension (LIFE) Program Phase 2, funded by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), is expanding its implementation to the second community in each project site, Zamboanga Sibugay, South Cotabato, Maguindanao del Norte, and Davao de Oro.

A workshop on contextualization, prioritization, and institutional partners mapping was conducted to identify their livelihood issues, needs, and potential solutions to improve their living conditions. Through the workshop, different prioritized livelihoods were identified across sites. All project interventions will be anchored to these workshop results, following the project's objective of improving their food access and income through livelihood opportunities.

13/10/2025