APAYAO, PHILIPPINES—584 bags of organic fertilizers are distributed by the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Cordillera Administrative Region Field Office (CAR FO) on May 17, 2018.

81 farmer-beneficiaries from the poorest barangays in the Municipality of Flora, Apayao, namely San Jose, Anninipan, Malubibit Sur, Malayugan, and Tamalunog were able to receive the said inputs.

The distribution was led by Area Coordinator (AC) for Flora, Ms. Marjorie Tangliben, together with Municipal Local Government Unit representative, Ms. Evangeline Aguda. Beneficiaries say “dakkel nga tulong knyami dytoy ta jy igatang mi ti abono igatang mi ti nasken nga kasapulan min, ” which roughly translates “[M]alaking tulong po ito sa amin kasi yung ibibili namin ng abono ay ibibili na lang namin ng mas pangangailangan namin” in Filipino.

Under SAAD, the DA will focus on the poorest provinces, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s thrust to increase food production and to trim down poverty incidence through the provision of livelihood projects.

Flora is one of the seven (7) covered municipalities in Apayao.

Writer: Ela Arciaga, SAAD NPMO PR & Communications Officer