29/10/2026
Capping off the National Indigenous Peoples Month and commemorating the National Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Day! 🇵🇭
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Philippines completed the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Consultations in Ifugao Rice Terraces for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - BFAR Philippines Rice-Fish Integrated Farming Systems Initiative.
Across the municipalities of Mayoyao, Banaue, and Hungduan, Ifugao, efforts are underway to better understand and support traditional rice-fish farming systems, a practice that has sustained Indigenous communities for generations through the integration of heirloom rice cultivation, aquatic resources, and Indigenous knowledge within the renowned Ifugao Rice Terraces (IFT), a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) recognized for its cultural, ecological and agricultural significance.
To support the Feasibility Study and Policy Assessment on Rice-Fish (Loach) Integrated Farming Systems in the Ifugao Rice Terraces, under the FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme entitled "Modernizing and Transforming Aquaculture in the Philippines through Stimulating Innovation, Investment and Partnership," the project team composed of FAO Philippines, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and Geographic Innovations for Development Solutions, Inc. (GRIDS) conducted a series of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) consultations with Indigenous Cultural Communities across the project sites.
In close collaboration with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the FPIC consultations were held in Mayoyao on 27 July 2026, followed by Banaue on 16 September 2026 and Hungduan on 17 September 2026. The activities brought together representatives from the FAO, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples , relevant Municipal Agriculture Offices, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs), community elders, local leaders, and rice-fish farmers.
The project will assess the environmental, socio-economic, technical, and policy dimensions of traditional rice-fish integrated farming systems in the Ifugao Rice Terraces, with particular focus on various heirloom vice varieties alongside the Japanese weather loach, locally known as pikaw, yuyu, or dojo. By documenting existing farming practices, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP), local experiences, challenges, and opportunities, the initiative aims to generate evidence-based recommendations to support sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, food security and the long-term resilience of this unique agricultural heritage landscape. The study likewise contributes to ongoing efforts to promote sustainable aquaculture while recognizing and enhancing the role of Indigenous knowledge in managing productive and resilient food systems.
The consultations provided a venue for meaningful discussions on the study's objectives, methodology, expected outputs, and potential implications for local communities. Through the FPIC process, community members were able to ask questions, share insights, raise concerns, and contribute their perspectives to ensure that the initiative is implemented in a manner that respects their rights, traditions, cultural heritage, and ancestral domains.
More than a procedural requirement, FPIC is a recognition of Indigenous Peoples' right to self-determination and meaningful participation in decisions that may affect their communities. It ensures that Indigenous Peoples are not merely consulted but are active partners in shaping initiatives that concern their lands, livelihoods, and traditional knowledge systems.
Following the successful completion of the FPIC process in Mayoyao, Banaue and Hungduan, the participating Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) formally expressed their consent to conduct the study through their respective community processes and agreements. This important milestone enabled the TCP project team to proceed with the next phase of the initiative, including field surveys, site assessments, focus group discussions, and other data-gathering activities necessary for the completion of the feasibility study and policy assessment.
As efforts continue to explore pathways for sustaining and revitalizing traditional rice-fish farming systems in Ifugao, the successful FPIC process serves as a reminder that meaningful development begins with listening, mutual respect, and community partnership. By placing Indigenous communities at the center of decision-making, the initiative demonstrates how sustainable aquaculture development can move forward while respecting culture, heritage, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Because before research comes understanding. Before action comes dialogue. And before development comes consent.
Omag Mayoyao Ncip Aguinaldo Ncip Ifugao DILG Cordillera PIA Cordillera Administrative Region Pia Ifugao
