LANAO DEL SUR – Department of Agriculture (DA), as partner agency of Task Force Bangon Marawi together with other agencies, helped in providing livelihood and technical assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Through Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) staff in DA Regional Field Office (RFO) 10, 500 packs of vegetable seeds including squash, okra, ampalaya, eggplant and sitaw, were distributed to 100 beneficiaries in Lanao del Sur on May 17, 2018. DA-RFO 10 Provincial Operations Center Chief of Lanao del Norte, Engr. Dominicio Eleseo, facilitated the distribution of assistance.

Meanwhile, in support to Ramadan Celebration and Marawi Week of Peace, DA-SAAD donated assorted fruits amounting to P5,000 on May 23, 2018. The fruits were distributed to 60 households or IDPs of Barangay Mipaga, Marawi City for the iftar, a meal eaten by Muslims after sunset during Ramadan.

The province of Lanao del Sur has been selected as one of the 30 priority provinces of the SAAD Program for having the highest poverty incidence rate among families in the country, which is 66.30%, based on the 2015 data of the Philippine Statistics Authority. Livelihood interventions in the form of corn, high value crops, chicken, and goat will be given to the program beneficiaries from the municipalities of Butig, Bubong, Kapai, Lumbatan, Marawi City and Piagapo for 2018. ###

Writer: Jean Amoloza, PR & Communications Officer

Source: Angelilah Talle Cabig, DA-RFO 10 RAFIS