BAGUIO CITY, December 3, 2020 – In the pre-assessment activity of the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) from December 2 to 3, Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program reported 94% or Php 135,588,000 were obligated out of Php 143,951,000 total budget for 2020. However, only 18% or Php 24,518,000 was disbursed as of November 30, 2020. The said data just resulted in 17% utilization rate.

The region’s report shows that the documents needed for the attachment of payment vouchers were held back due to the lockdown restrictions. In result, the schedules of the delivery of interventions were postponed while some were delayed.

To address the said concerns, there are already assigned staff in each province to fast track the lacking documents. All the impeded deliveries were also scheduled this month.

In his speech, SAAD Deputy Director Ulysses J. Lustria, Jr. said that the program is now targeting the sustainability of the livelihood projects and the establishment of community enterprises.

Dir. Lustria also added that the House Committee on Rural Development urges the possible extension of the program beyond 2022 to cover other qualified provinces.

Department of Agriculture (DA) CAR OIC-Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey also emphasized that there is a greater opportunity to see the program’s impact on the beneficiaries because the field implementers are closely working within the communities.

Regional Technical Director Danilo P. Daguio also noted that the remaining days of December 2020 will be the time to strategize and exert triple effort to improve the implementation strategies of the program.

The region’s organizational structure and proposed staff requirement for the SAAD Program in 2021 were also approved.

“We hope to improve our operations as we implement our plans for FY 2021,” Dir. Odsey concluded.

The two-day activity was attended through face-to-face (30 participants) and virtual (54 participants) by the National, Regional, Regional technical working groups, and Provincial offices of SAAD CAR.

Writer: Evangeline Yambot, Regional Information Officer
Copy Editor: Jennifer A. Valcobero, SAAD NPMO Public Relation and Comms Officer