Twelve (12) Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) supported by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) received agricultural interventions worth of Php808,200 in total during the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” held last September 14, 2026.
The interventions will support the FCAs’ ongoing agricultural projects and production activities in Abra, Apayao, and Mountain Province.
In Abra, nine SAAD-supported FCAs received 80 bags of fertilizers and five units of water pumps worth Php240,400 in total. The interventions will support their high-value crop-related projects and farm production activities.
Among the beneficiaries was the Salmabasa Agri-Fishery Farmers Association in Daguioman, which received 15 bags of fertilizer and one walking-type agricultural tractor worth a combined Php46,250. The association is implementing sugarcane and peanut production projects under DA-SAAD.
For association president Benjie Bangayen, the intervention will help strengthen their production and increase their harvest.
“Agyaman kami iti suporta para iti mannalon tapno mapaado ti apit ken pagsayaatan ti padak a mannalon,” Bangayen said. (We are grateful for the support given to farmers to help increase our harvest and benefit our fellow farmers.)
The Riverside Liguis Farmers’ Association, Inc. in La Paz also received one walking-type agricultural tractor worth Php18,800. The association is implementing goat and sweet potato production projects under DA-SAAD.
Its vice president, Gina Bayudan, said the equipment will help address the group’s water requirements for crop production.
“Dakkel ti maitulong na daytoy water pump tapno dumanon ti danum ijay mulmula mi,” she said. (This water pump will be a great help because it will allow water to become more accessible and reach our crops.)
In Apayao, the Soda Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Association in Calanasan received a walking-type agricultural tractor worth Php52,800 to support its chili production project under DA-SAAD.
In Mountain Province, the Ever-wang Farmers and Fisherfolk Association in Belwang, Sadanga received a sugarcane presser worth Php235,000, while Capinitan Ug-Ugbo Farmers Association in Capinitan, Sabangan received 10 units of coffee pulpers worth Php280,000. The machinery will support the associations’ sugarcane and coffee production projects, respectively.
The turnover of the interventions was part of the nationwide “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” 2026, a government service caravan that brought various programs, assistance, and frontline services closer to communities. The activity brought together national government agencies, local government units, and partner organizations to respond to the needs of communities. The simultaneous activity was conducted in connection with the celebration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 69th birthday.
In Abra, DA-CAR Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Dr. Arlene Sagayo conveyed Marcos’ message, which highlighted the Filipino people’s resilience and the importance of unity and cooperation amid challenges such as rising fuel prices, drought, heavy rains, and flooding.
“Kapag may pagsubok, bumabangon. Kapag may problema, nagtutulungan,” said Sagayo.
She said that the Handog ng Pangulo initiative reflects the government’s effort to bring essential services directly to communities, with national and local government agencies working together to respond to the needs of the people.
The interventions are expected to help the supported FCAs sustain their production activities and strengthen the implementation of their respective agricultural projects under the DA-SAAD Program in the Cordillera. ###
