A study from the Enderun Research Department examined the role indicators which affect the mobility of the Manobo community in Bukidnon. In particular, the study explored how the lack of Farm-to-Market roads negatively affected access to urban markets for income of the Manobo Tribe. The study gathered information through interviews and surveys from 35 respondents in the Municipality of San Fernando in Bukidnon.
As shown in Figure 1, the current roadway from San Fernando to Valencia City takes a roundabout route spanning 52.9km. Though the trip can be made in a little over one hour by car, the route is extremely difficult for the Manobo community.
Click here to view the full study from the Enderun Research Department.
In interviews, respondents claim that for many, travel from their community to Valencia City takes an entire day by foot. Even alternative routes are difficult as traveling by boat is still a whole day venture, albeit those who do are able to return before nightfall. There is also the matter of safely transporting their goods. Due to the long travel time, there is a real risk of products spoiling during travel. For those who opt to travel by boat, there have been instances where boats were unable to accommodate the weight of the agricultural products, causing the boats to sink and the individual to lose all their products. In some dire cases, there are those who do not even survive the roundtrip due to the lengthy and exhausting journey.
Economic Effects on the Manobo
53 percent of respondents claimed that the unavailability of decent roads discouraged them from marketing their indigenous products. Factoring in the amount of time and skill necessary to produce these indigenous products, many of the Manobo have turned almost exclusively to agricultural products to support their community. Unfortunately, the absence of Farm-to-Market roads has left many of them immobilized and unable to efficiently and safely transport their products to markets, furthering issues surrounding poverty and quality of life.
Indigenous tribes often receive little attention when it comes to their income growth and well-being. This is why the government, private sector, and NGOs, should come together and provide external assistance for the development of a proper Farm-to-Market road for the Manobo, and really, any and all indigenous tribes. Such a road is key, not just to the convenience of these tribes, but also vital in alleviating poverty, illiteracy, and death rate.
Click here to view the full study from the Enderun Research Department.
