OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, August 18, 2020 – The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Region 4B turned-over a total of Php 1,196,875.00 worth of farm inputs and poultry interventions for 175 farmers in the province.

Rice Production Project in Magsaysay

A total of Php 470,000.00 worth of fertilizers were distributed on August 7, 2020 to a farmers’ association in Brgy. Laste, Magsaysay.

With the aim of increasing the harvest and income of farmers, a total of 400 bags of two types of inorganic fertilizers were distributed to the members of Laste Rice Farmers Association. The fertilizers will be used in this wet season cropping.

One hundred members of the said association received 200 bags of complete (14-14-14) fertilizer worth Php 246,000.00 and 200 bags urea (46-0-0) fertilizer worth Php 224,000.00 during a turn-over ceremony held at the basketball court of the Pamahalaang Barangay ng Laste. Each farmer was given four bags of fertilizers – two bags of complete and two bags of urea.

Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano, Mayor Cesar Tria of Magsaysay, AJ Rebong (representative of Rep. Josephine Sato), and Chairperson John Acierto of Brgy. Laste led the turn-over of the fertilizers to the SAAD beneficiaries.

DA-MIMAROPA Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO) and SAAD Provincial Coordinator, Mr. Gerardo Laredo, and Municipal Agriculture Office of Magsaysay – Agricultural Technician, Mr. Richard Ochavez, imparted messages of encouragement to the farmer-beneficiaries present in the turn-over.

Mr. Ramil Pagilagan, Laste Rice Farmers Association – Chairperson, expressed his gratitude for the assistance they received from the SAAD Program of DA-MIMAROPA.

SAAD Area Coordinators Vilmar Robes and Mario S. Paz Jr., and MAO Staff Justine Ventura assisted during the distribution of fertilizers to farmer-beneficiaries.

Native chicken project in Abra de Ilog

To support the poultry industry of Abra de Ilog, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA also turned-over native chicken and supplementary assistance to 75 farmer-beneficiaries under the Native Chicken Production Project with a total project cost of Php 726,875.00 from the 2019 SAAD funds which aims of the native chicken production project is to help the beneficiaries improve their livelihood.

A total 750 native chickens (675 hens and 75 roosters) with value of Php 337,500.00 were turned-over to beneficiaries from two barangays (Balao and Udalo). Aside from the native chicken, the beneficiaries also received a total of 175 bags of cracked corn and 175 bags of rice bran.

Brgy. Udalo particularly, received a total of Php 374,000.00 worth of interventions, where 40 farmers received 400 native chickens worth Php 180,000.00, plus supplemental assistance of 90 bags of cracked corn worth Php 93,600.00 and 85 bags of rice bran worth Php 100,725.00.

Each farmer in Brgy. Udalo was given 10 chickens (9 hens and 1 rooster) amounting to Php 4,500.00; 67.5 kg of cracked corn amounting to Php 2,340.00; and 106.25 kg of rice bran amounting to Php 2,518.00 with total value of Php 9,358.00.

On the other hand, Brgy. Balao received Php 346,625.00 worth of interventions, where 35 farmers received 350 native chickens worth Php 157,500.00, and supplemental assistance of 85 bags cracked corn worth Php 88,400.00, and 85 bags rice bran worth Php 100,725.00.

Each farmer in Brgy. Balao was given 10 chickens (9 hens and 1 rooster) amounting to Php 4,500.00; 72.9 kg cracked corn worth Php 2,527.00; and 121.4 kg of rice bran worth Php 2,877.00. totaling to Php 9,904.00. Each beneficiary gladly received the native chickens and thanked the DA-SAAD program for the livelihood assistance in their community.

With these projects, the beneficiaries are planning to expand the native chicken and produce more eggs to have an additional income.

Brgy. Udalo chairperson Ms. Ofelia Silan led the distribution of native chicken, cracked corn, and rice bran in Udalo, while MAO Julius Judelito Amodia led in Brgy. Balao. Assisting in the distribution were SAAD Area Coordinators Jhonzell Panganiban, Wily Adrian Vergara, and Ian Von Yadao.

Mr. Felix Avenido, a resident of Camurong, Sitio Dita in Brgy. Udalo was grateful to SAAD’s intervention.  “Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa DA lalo na sa SAAD sa manukan na pinagkaloob sa amin. Salamat sa kanila dahil ito ay malaking tulong para po sa amin dito sa Dita, upang mapalago ang kabuhayan at maragdagan ang kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan, lalo na kami na mahihirap para po sa aming kabuhayan at ito po ay binalik namin ang malaking pagkakataong pasasalamat sa DA na nasa pamunuan ng DA, yun lamang po at maraming salamat,” said Mr. Avenido.

Another beneficiary, Mr. Edmar Fenis of Sitio Lukutan, Brgy. Udalo also expressed his gratitude to the DA-SAAD and shared, “isa po ako sa nakatanggap o benipisyaryo ng SAAD na manukan. Ang lahat ng miyembro po namin ay nagpapasalamat po sa pinagkaloob nilang livelihood sa amin. Maraming maraming salamat po”. ###

Writer: Marshall Louie Asis, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Information Officer

References: Irish Omisol, SAAD MIMAROPA and Jhonzell Panganiban (DA SAAD Area Coordinator)

Photos by: Jhonzell Panganiban (DA SAAD Area Coordinator)