SORSOGON, May 7, 2020 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Region 5 together with the Provincial Coordinator, Area Coordinators, and the local government unit (LGU) Agricultural Technicians distributed a total of 900 pullets under the Native Chicken Production Project amounting to Php 450,000.00 for FY 2020.

The said project was granted to 60 farmer-beneficiaries in four municipalities of Sorsogon, specifically: 15 Indigenous People beneficiaries from the Agta-Cimaron-Tabangnon community of Brgy. Dancalan, Donsol; 20 farmer-beneficiaries from Brgy. Bariis, Matnog; 15 beneficiaries from Brgy. Lourdes, Pilar; and 10 beneficiaries in Brgy. San Isidro, Sta. Magdalena. Each farmer-beneficiary received amongst others a total Php 7,500 worth of 15 heads of almost two-month-old pullets (500 g/pullet).

Due to the strict quarantine protocols imposed in the area, the delivery of materials and construction of chicken housing was temporarily suspended, prompting farmer-beneficiaries to create improvised temporary housing for the delivered pullets.

While the economic condition brought by the CoViD-19 pandemic has been disadvantageous to the farmers in Sorsogon, the DA-SAAD Region 5 carries out continued work to provide and secure sustainable livelihood support and food supply to its constituents especially in the remote areas of the province.

These initiatives are crucial as the country moves forward to post quarantine life set-up. It is high-time to ensure local stakeholders and boost their morale through active engagements by virtue of providing livelihood projects and activities.

In an interview by the SAAD Provincial Coordinator Mary Rose A. Detera with the Agta-Tabangnon community chieftain of Donsol Mr. Leopoldo T. Musa, the latter shared, “Malaki po ang pasasalamat ng aming tribo sa Department of Agriculture lalo na sa Special Area for Agricultural Development sa magandang pangkabuhayang handog nila sa amin sa panahong ito ng CoViD-19 pandemic. Nakikita namin ang magandang potensyal na magdudulot ng magandang kabuhayan sa amin. Makaka-asa po kayo na ito ay aming pangangalagaan.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Rosemalym Fezarit, the secretary of Brgy. Lourdes Farmers Association (beneficiary from Pilar), also expressed the group’s gratitude regarding the easy access to quality eggs supply brought by the native chicken production project in their barangay.

With the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) currently imposed in the Bicol Region, limited mobility of staff is experienced due to the strict implementation at the LGU and barangay level. However, despite the restriction, SAAD-Bicol will continue to reach the remote areas and deliver agricultural interventions to beneficiaries of the program. SAAD farmers in Sorsogon have also participated and sold their produce in the KADIWA ni Ani at Kita, which is the marketing strategy of DA to directly connect the farmers to consumers. ###

Writer: Jessamae Gabon, DA SAAD NPMO Public Relations, and Communications Officer

Sources: Ms. Lovella P. Guarin, DA SAAD 5 Regional Technical Working Group Member, Ms. Maribeth A. Magalino, DA SAAD Region 5 Planning Officer

Photo source: DA-SAAD RFO 5