Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences and strategies of the Ata-Manobo tribe on food security. The study used a qualitative type of research, specifically a phenomenological approach. This was conducted at Feeder Road 5, Barangay Tibal-og, Santo Tomas, and Davao del Norte in the Philippines. It was confined to the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions of the fourteen Ata-Manobo adults. The findings of this study revealed that they were food insecure and mentally and emotionally unstable, and that this had affected them financially. However, the majority of them continued to utilize subsistence farming—crops that serve as both a food source and a source of nutrients. There were two limitations considered in this qualitative study: language barriers and financial barriers. First, there are language barriers since the participants of this study were from the Ata-Manobo tribe, and the terms being used need to be given meaning in layman’s terms. The researchers had to provide the right definition and confirm the terms with the tribal chieftains and IPMRs. Secondly, financial barriers exist since the study needs to request a Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in order to comply with the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) Law, and the researchers have to shoulder the expenses from the FPIC process up to the validation of the results. The insights generated in this study could lead to the development of effective outreach activities and a food security program.

Keywords: Ata-manobo tribe, food security, subsistence farming, food insecurity, indigenous knowledge

 

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