LUNA, APAYAO, PHILIPPINES—The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) led by its Program Director, Bernadette F. San Juan, visited Luna in Apayao on January 31, 2018 to oversee the Program’s three-year plans for the said area. Held in the Municipal Conference Hall—Warlito Madamba—SAAD Apayao Provincial Coordinator (PC), led the presentation of Apayao’s Procurement and Deliveries status covering 2016-2017 funds.

SAAD, which started in 2016, targets thirty (30) provinces in the Philippines wherein the Poverty Incidence (PI) is high. Further, it targets alleviating poverty by enabling its farmer-beneficiaries to produce their household food supply as well as to market the surplus for their additional income.

All seven (7) municipalities in Apayao are identified in terms of their PI. Ranging from 1 to 7 (1 having the highest PI), they are Kabugao, Calanasan, Conner, Pudtol, Flora, Luna, and Sta. Marcela, respectively.

Attendees were aiming to have improved crop yield and production, reduced or minimal post-harvest losses, improved marketing system, and available alternative sources of income for the SAAD-covered barangays in the said municipalities.

In 2016, Apayao became the first SAAD province from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and will be followed by Kalinga and Mountain Province for 2019.

Apayao Provincial Agriculturist, Prudencio Bosing shared that the governor will spearhead the ceremony for the awarding of agricultural machineries (including 4WD tractors and combine harvesters) to SAAD farmer-beneficiaries which will be held in Apayao on the 14th of February this year.

Writer: Ela Arciaga, PR & Communications Officer