NEGROS ORIENTAL—Fifty-five (55) individual farmer-partners of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Negros Oriental received 275 heads of goat, as part of the Program’s continuous strive to help increase the farmer-partners’ livelihood income.

The distribution is held in the Municipal Agricultural Offices (MAOs) of Bindoy, Tayasan, and Ayungon in Negros Oriental on 14 & 20 July 2018, respectively.

The distributions were overseen by the staff of the Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO), headed by SAAD Focal Person for Region 7, Engr. Eugene C. Cahiles. Providing support were Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO) led by Negros Oriental Provincial Coordinator (PC) Mr. Jaypee S. Soldivillo, joined by Area Coordinators (AC) Engr. Maria Angelina Cubalan (Bacong, Dauin, Valencia, and Zamboanguita), AC Mr. Rico Sienes (Ayungon), and AC Ms. Marcelina Cabonelas (Dumaguete City, Sibulan, San Jose, and Amlan).

Local Government Unit (LGU) staff were also present to assist, headed by respective Municipal Agriculturists (MAs), Mr. Harry R. Calumpang (Bindoy), Ms. Sarah Ignacio (Tayasan), Ms. Mary Marjurie A. Abella (Ayungon).

Twenty (20) Bindoy farmer-partners were given one hundred (100) heads of goat, wherein one (1) buck and four (4) does went for each beneficiary.

Morevover, 3,100 kilograms (or 62 bags) of grower feeds were given to the said municipality as the beneficiaries will receive 155 kgs. (or 3.1 bags), individually.

A total of fifteen (15) partner-farmer from Tayasan were also provided with one (1) buck and four (4) does each, having 75 goats for the said municipality. They were also allocated with 2,250 kgs. (or 45 bags) of grower feeds, receiving exactly three (3) bags each.

The same allocation was divided among the farmers in Ayungon – 100 goats, with 1 buck and 4 does for each of the twenty (20) farmer-partners. Also, 3,050 kgs. (or 61 bags) of grower feeds were also given to the Municipality of Ayungon, as the farmers will be allocated 152.50 kgs. (or 3.05 bags) each.

The recipients were so happy that they can’t explain their emotion as seen from their tears of joy.

The ACs will continue to monitor the intervention given, as the goat sheds are still in the bidding process. ###

Writer: Ela Arciaga, SAAD NPMO PR & Communications Officer