MASBATE, BICOL, DECEMBER 17, 2020 – Still under rehabilitation, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Masbate rice farmers harvested a combined total of 1,350 bags (59.52 t) palay in the last quarter of 2020 from the Rice Production Package component of the program.

San Pascual. In a project monitoring and evaluation report conducted by area coordinators of SAAD Masbate from November 1 to 30, Masbate farmers in Brgy. San Pedro, San Pascual gathered 1,108 bags (48.85 t) of palay from tilling 40.95 hectares (ha).

The beneficiaries from San Pedro Corn and Rice Farmer’s Association received components of the Rice Production Package 1 consisting of rice seeds, complete fertilizer, laminated sacks, empty sacks, palay thresher, brush cutter, polyethylene laminated tarpaulin, moisture meter, hand tractor with trailer, and  draft animals (carabao).

The package costs Php 6.1 million for the 7 groups (approximately 525 members) catered by the program, which grants an approximate Php 882,400.00 budget for each group.

Balud. In Brgy. Panubigan, Balud, Masbate, 19 individual farmers harvested a combined total of 242 bags (10.7 t) of palay for the last quarter after surviving flood and pest infestation. The Rice Production Package 6 for Balud beneficiaries is composed of rice seeds, complete fertilizer, laminated sacks, and empty sacks. The DA-SAAD Masbate allocated Php 3.9 million to serve 760 individual farmers in the province.

Organizing the beneficiaries into groups is a challenge to the province due to the distant locations of eligible farmers in the covered municipalities. The DA-SAAD RPMSO 5, in fulfilling the SAAD’s mission, therefore opted to distribute group and individual packages that can cater to marginalized groups and individual farmers alike in the remote areas of Masbate.

Mr. Aladino Berdan, a member of San Pedro Corn and Rice Farmers Association who harvested 32 bags (1.41 t) from his 0.50 ha area, extended his gratitude to the program, sharing: “…nakatulong ang mga harvest nung dumaang mga bagyo dahil nagkaroon kami ng pagkain sa pang-araw-araw. Maraming salamat sa walang sawang pag suporta ng SAAD sa aming organisasyon.”

In the other municipality of Balud, Mr. Gil Villaruel, an individual-beneficiary who harvested 70 bags (3.08 t) of palay, said: “Nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga bigay ng SAAD Program, nakatipid na po kami sa binhi at abono. Halos buong barangay ng Panubigan, Balud ay beneficiary ng SAAD na nakatanggap ng iba’t-ibang tulong.”

SAAD RPMSO 5 Action Officer Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriguez remains positive and expresses confidence in the beneficiaries’ continued livelihood rehabilitation, saying: “We are all working together to recover from the challenges this year has thrown at us. I have seen the untiring efforts of our regional and provincial staff, and most especially our beneficiaries to come out of each test gracefully. Rest assured, kaisa ang SAAD sa recovery ng buong probinsya, lalo na ng mga apektadong magsasaka.”

The SAAD national office’s request to download national funds for SAAD Region 5’s rehabilitation was approved by the Department of Budget and Management on December 11, as per the Department of Agriculture – Budget Division. ###

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

Sources:

Maribeth A. Mangalino, DA SAAD Region 5 Planning Officer

Elia Kim E. Longcayana, Area Coordinator – San Pascual

Charence A. Gueriba, Area Coordinator – Balud

Jonathan S. Claro – SAAD Masbate IT Officer

DA-SAAD RPMSO 5