PANGANTUCAN, Bukidnon – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is taking the lead in a multi-agency effort to protect and sustainably develop the Muleta Watershed, a vital natural resource in Bukidnon province.
This initiative is part of the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD), which brings together the DAR, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to promote sustainable rural development, achieve long-term ecological balance and community prosperity.
These agencies launched the Muleta Watershed Convergence Area Development Plan (CADP) on 30 August 2024. This comprehensive five-year plan (2023–2027) outlines strategies for the protection, rehabilitation and sustainable development of the 21,630-hectare watershed that spans 11 barangays in Pangantucan.
Originating from Mt. Kalatungan, the Muleta Watershed covers 83,884.89 hectares across nine municipalities and one city in Bukidnon. The Muleta River, a major tributary of the Pulangui River, plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural landscapes in the province, one of the country’s major food producers.
Recognizing the watershed’s importance, the NCI-SRD agencies are implementing integrated programs that empower Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and promote environmental stewardship. DAR is central to this effort, integrating responsible land stewardship into its policies and programs to ensure ARBs are active participants in conservation while benefiting from sustainable agriculture.
“DAR is committed to empowering our farmers to be not just cultivators, but also custodians of the environment. Our work here in the Muleta Watershed is about building a future where agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability go hand-in-hand,” said DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) Jammal G. Pangandaman.
Under the CADP, DAR’s contributions focus on three key areas:
- Land Tenure Improvement – Helping ARBs gain secure land ownership, encouraging long-term, sustainable land use
- Support Services Delivery – Providing access to essential resources, training and technology to increase farm productivity while reducing environmental impact
- Climate-Resilient Agriculture – Promoting farming practices that can adapt to changing climate conditions to ensure the sustainability of agriculture in the watershed.
Through the Muleta Watershed CADP, the NCI-SRD partnership envisions a future where rural development is people-centered, integrated and environmentally sound. The shared goal is to make the watershed a lasting source of life that supports agricultural productivity, ecological balance, and community resilience for generations to come. ###