Ambaguio, a 5th-class municipality in Nueva Vizcaya’s uplands, is home to 4,514, indigenous peoples (IPs) primarily from the Kalanguya and the Ayangan tribes.
Historically, the villagers, who relied heavily on agriculture for their sustenance, faced severe poverty exacerbated by a poor road network. During typhoons, access roads often become impassable due to landslides, leaving communities isolated for days.
The situation had worsened when the New People’s Army (NPA) became active in certain areas, particularly in remote barangays of Napo, Dulli, Camandag, and Ammoeg.
“In the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s, entering these villages was challenging. We needed clearance from the military or police because of the NPA’s presence,” recalled Henry Kelcho, a former worker with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.
Of the various proposed development projects over the years, only a few minor initiatives were implemented. The introduction of Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalized the Whole-of-Nation Approach to achieving inclusive and sustainable peace and established a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), marked a significant shift in the government’s strategy against insurgency.
With EO 70 in effect, the local government of Ambaguio, led by its current and former political leaders, became proactive in seeking development projects for their IP communities. Several government programs poured into the municipality, supported by agencies including the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
Among the significant projects that the national government funded was the Tiblac-Dulli Farm-to-Market Road, backed by over P139 million from the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project. This road enhancement project has reduced transportation costs and travel time for farmers in barangays Ammoweg, Napo, Camandag, Poblacion, Dulli, Salingsingan, Labang, and Tiblac, facilitating the marketing of crops such as tomatoes, cabbage, squash, snap pole beans, and potatoes.
Also, the DILG’s Support to Barangay Development Programs has successfully completed several farm-to-market roads (FMRs), including the P4-million Tadyukong-Tuplak Road in barangay Dulli, the P4-M Bahug-Binalhi-Gaha Road in barangay Napo, and the P4-M Banihal-Canyawan-Nanlahyan Road in barangay Ammoweg.
The DPWH has also been instrumental in building school facilities and improving road infrastructure projects in Ambaguio.
The local government unit of Ambaguio contributed P16 million to the DA’s PRDP project and provided manpower for other FMR initiatives.
Walter Dulnuan, a 49-year-old farmer from Barangay Camandag, expressed optimism about the future.
“These projects will inspire upland farmers to increase their agricultural output. Previously, our farmers struggled to transport their products to market due to poor road conditions. Now, with these new roads, they can deliver their goods quickly and efficiently,” he said.
The establishment of various farm-to-market roads has also improved the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police mobility, enabling them to conduct regular patrols in remote barangays.
“We can now reach these areas much faster than before. This allows us to stay longer and monitor with our drones,” said a military officer who requested anonymity.
These initiatives have garnered support from the Provincial Local Government of Nueva Vizcaya, which launched the ‘Kalsada ti Kabambantayan’ program to enhance access roads for upland farmers.
Last year, the Department of Tourism, along with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and the Office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., allocated P25 million to Ambaguio for winning the Tourism Champions Challenge, recognizing its innovative Skyport Project aimed at positioning the town as a premier domestic paragliding destination.
Governor Jose Gambito highlighted the ongoing development in Ambaguio as a testament to the strong support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, local officials, and the community.
“We acknowledge the contributions of Ambaguio and its residents in achieving our province’s designation as insurgency-free, a status we now enjoy. We look forward to continuing our partnerships to further develop our province for future generations,” he said.
Mayor Renelio Danao noted the excitement among local IP communities.
“Our villagers are inspired by the socio-economic and eco-tourism projects introduced by the national government and the provincial local government. With the improved FMRs, farming is becoming a viable livelihood again. We commend the National Government Agencies and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for bringing these significant projects to our town,” the mayor said. (OTB/BME/PIA NVizcaya)
