SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, OCTOBER 02, 2020 – In support of the government’s thrust in agricultural mechanization and modernization in the countryside, the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) MIMAROPA distributed farm machinery amounting to Php 1,286,000.00 to indigenous farming communities of Brgy. Monteclaro, San Jose.

Two farmer-associations with an estimated 100 members belonging to the Buhid-Mangyan tribe received 6 units of hand tractor with trailer and complete accessories costing Php 888,000.00 and four units of pump and engine with complete accessories costing Php 398,000.00. A unit of hand tractor with trailer and complete accessories costs Php 148,000.00, while a unit of pump and engine costs Php 99,500.00.

The farm machines were turned over last 25 September 2020 to the associations: Samahan ng mga Magsasakang Katutubo ng Monteclaro (50 members) led by its chairperson Renato Masangkay and the Ilya, Taganop, Masay, Mantay at Sangay Farmer’s Association (ITaMMaSaFA) with 50 members led by Chairman Ubos Balintang. Each association received three units – hand tractor with trailer and complete accessories worth Php 444,000.00 and two units pump and engine worth Php 199,000.00.

In attendance during the turn over ceremony at Sitio San Juan, Brgy. Manoot, Rizal were local government officials including Cong. Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato, Vice Governor Peter Alfaro, Mr. Jose Franco Mendiola (a representative of the Office of the Governor), Brgy. Captain Von Joseph Ortelano of Brgy. Monteclaro, Rommel Calingasan (Officer-in-Charge Municipal Agriculturist), and Mr. Gerardo Laredo (APCO Occidental Mindoro). Mrs. Angelita Altayo (Tribal Affairs Assistant of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples) and Lt. Col Alexander Arbolado (Battalion Commander ng 4th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division of Armed Forces of the Philippines) witnessed the ceremony. Assisting were staff of MAO San Jose (Joy Dela Cruz, Jimboy Jacinto, and Romeo Parocha, Jr.); and DA-SAAD personnel (Jouriel Tolosa, Vilmar Robes, and Mario Paz, Jr.).

Through the years, there exists a continued presence of armed conflict in Mindoro which causes threat and perpetuates poverty among the communities. The DA-SAAD supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) which aims to terminate conflict between government forces and rebel groups.

Expressing gratitude to the government assistance received, the two groups of Buhid- Mangyans promised to maintain and utilize the farm machinery. ###

Writer: 

Marshall Louie Asis, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Information Officer

Reference and photos by:

Jouriel Tolosa and Vilmar Robes (DA SAAD staff)

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