The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is taking the lead in a multi-agency effort to protect and sustainably develop the 21,630-hectare Muleta watershed, a vital natural resource in Bukidnon.
“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,” provincial agrarian reform program officer Jammal Pangandaman said.
The initiative is part of the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD) to bring together DAR, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior and Local Government in the promotion of sustainable rural development, and achievement of long-term ecological balance and community prosperity.
Last Aug. 30, 2924, the four agencies launched the Muleta Watershed Convergence Area Development Plan, a comprehensive five-year plan (2023–2027) outlining strategies for the protection, rehabilitation and sustainable development of the watershed that spans 11 barangays in Pangantucan.
Originating from Mount Kalatungan, the Muleta watershed covers 83,884.89 hectares across nine municipalities and one city in Bukidnon.
It is a major tributary of the Pulangui River that 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 agencies are implementing integrated programs that empower agrarian reform beneficiaries and promote environmental stewardship.
DAR plays a pivotal role to integrate responsible land stewardship into its policies and programs to ensure that farmer-beneficiaries are active participants in conservation while benefiting from sustainable agriculture, Pangandaman cited.