TACLOBAN CITY, November 18, 2020– Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 8 opened the sealed bids for the Special Area for Agriculture Development (SAAD) Program’s procurement of animals and feeds for distribution to 87 farmer-groups across Eastern Visayas.

SAAD Procurement Officer Abigael S. Buhay attended the event on behalf of the program, at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, Tacloban City.

The activity is part of early procurement and post-qualification processes which ensures timely contract implementation and efficient delivery of services for the year 2021.

Under the approved budget of contract worth Php 87.8 million are inputs for layer chicken (43 groups in 37 barangays), native chicken (16 groups in 13 barangays), mallard duck (24 groups in 19 barangays), and goat production (4 groups in 4 barangays).

Through the early procurement process, farmers can expect to receive the livelihood projects on time in line with the prepared schedules such as for the transportation and construction of animal housing.

The DA, through the SAAD Program, aims to improve the economic status of farmers in marginalized areas in the provinces, including Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte.

The SAAD Program in Region 8 started implementing its projects in 2017, providing agricultural inputs and training to prepare the beneficiaries in developing sustainable livelihood projects and community enterprises. ###

Writer:               Michael Dabuet, SAAD PEO Region 8
Copy-editor:     Natalianne Marie Delos Reyes, SAAD NPMO- PR and Comms Officer