From Barter to Subsistence: The Socio-Economic Transformation of Kalanguya Livelihoods to Commercial Farming in Bacneng, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

This study investigates the socioeconomic transformation of the Kalanguya people in Bacneng, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, documenting their transition from a traditional subsistence and barter economy to market-integrated commercial farming. Historically sustained by the barter system and swidden farming, the community is increasingly adopting cash-crop agriculture driven by the need for monetary income to cover modern expenses like education and medicine. The research utilizes a qualitative multidisciplinary approach, including in-depth interviews with community elders to capture oral histories and thematic analysis of livelihood changes. Findings indicate that while commercialization has increased profits and created new professional opportunities, it has also introduced environmental risks from chemical use, market marginalization by third-party buyers, and a weakening of traditional communal labor systems such as Ubbo and Da-ngah. Despite these challenges, the Kalanguya demonstrate cultural resilience by actively documenting their heritage and adapting traditional values to modern economic realities. The study recommends policy interventions to enhance fair market access through cooperatives and to formally support indigenous communal systems within development projects.

Kalanguya-Ikalahan, Socioeconomic Transformation, Commercial Agriculture, Market Integration, Environmental Degradation

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