ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 15-16, 2020 –  The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program field implementers of Region 9 initiated a fundraising program they call “Bayanihan Mission: Farm Good for Families Relief Project”.

According to SAAD Area Coordinator Roger Dave Gramatica, proceeds obtained through cash donations totaled to Php 62,000. The said proceeds were utilized to produce 300 food packs for underprivileged families covering five villages in the city: Kasanyangan, Talon Talon, Cawit, Guiwan, and Cabaluay. Each food pack contains two kgs of rice, one kg of dried fish, one kg of eggplant, two pieces of sayote, and one kg of red squash.

SAAD Region 9 targeted those homeless people and households that have blue collar jobs, such as carpenters, public utility vehicle drivers, and labor workers. They believe that these people were greatly affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the City Agricultural Office also provided vegetable seeds (mustasa, pechay, upland kangkong, and okra) to promote backyard gardening.

The initiative was supported by the DA Regional Field Office 9 and SAAD Focal Person Ferdinand Gamorot. With the assistance of the barangay councils and City Social Welfare and Development Office, the distribution was made possible. ###

Writer: Jhomai Canlas, SAAD Public Relations and Communications Head

Source: Roger Dave Gramatica, SAAD Zamboanga del Norte Area Coordinator