CALANASAN, APAYAO—The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) in CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) facilitated the turnover of farm machineries to farmer-beneficiaries in Calanasan, Apayao on March 2018.

A hand tractor and a corn sheller each went to the Agbiag Macalino and Pagbiyagan Farmers Associations (FAs) while a hand tractor unit has been received by Naguilian Pantawid FA in the municipality of Calanasan in Apayao. These FAs were represented by their respective presidents, Mr. Ariel Bawat (Barangay Macalino), Ms. Criselda Ulang (Brgy. Naguilian), and Ms. Lydia Casigay (Brgy Namaltugan).

The FA Presidents, in behalf of their association members, expressed their profound gratitude to DA in the Province of Apayao, for realizing and fulfilling their dreams to have their own modern farming equipment, “…[N]agkatotoo na po [ang] aming panaginip na mabigyan kami ng ganitong makinarya at tunay nga pong napakalaking tulong nito sa amin upang mapataas ang aming kita at mapaunlad ang aming kabuhayan na mga magsasaka.”

SAAD was launched in Apayao in 2016, aiming to alleviate poverty through the provision of livelihood programs.

Writer: Ela Arciaga, PR & Communications Officer
Source: Le Anne A. Aguirre, Information Technologist, SAAD-Apayao