STA. MARCELA, APAYAO, PHILIPPINES—The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) continues its distribution of interventions in the municipality of Sta. Marcela which started on June 4, 2018.

Almost two (2) weeks after on June 15, one hundred and forty-six (146) bags of urea & complete fertilizers with additional sixty (60) bags of inbred rice, and a hundred and thirty-two (132) bags of hybrid corn were awarded to three (3) SAAD Farmers’ Associations (FAs) in the opening ceremony of the Agro-Industrial Trade Fair, also the 14th Balangkoy Festival in Sta. Marcela.

It is during the Balangkoy Festival wherein different products that come from Balangkoy or cassava (Manihot esculenta) are showcased.

Regional Executive Director (RED) Mr. Narciso A. Edillo was the guest speaker of the event. Also present was Provincial Agriculturist Prudencio G. Bosing, and Congresswoman Leah B. Begtang.

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

Writer: Ela Arciaga, PR & Communications Officer (SAAD NPMO)
Contributor: Meliza I. Feliciano, Administrative Assistant III (DA-SAAD Apayao)