BAGUIO CITY, January 25, 2021 – The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) will implement Php 203 million worth of rice-related, high-value crops, livestock, and poultry livelihood projects in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for FY 2021.

Discussed during the virtual (20 participants) and face-to-face (54 participants) Operational Planning Workshop conducted by the program on January 20-22 were the 135 SAAD projects to be implemented in the provinces of Apayao (Php 45.9 million), Kalinga (Php 48.5 million), and Mountain Province (Php 49 million).

Meanwhile, SAAD CAR allocated Php 57.8 million for its program management support and Php 1.8 million for social preparation.

In its report, the region noted an obligation rate of 98.13% (Php 141,265,149.70) and a disbursement rate of 46% (Php 66,556,803.73) from its Php 143,951,000 budget of FY 2020 as of December 30, 2020.

The schedule of deliveries for the remaining interventions that were impeded last year due to the pandemic was also discussed, as well as the completion and submission within the first quarter of 2021 of the documents needed for the undelivered inputs.

Discussed during the events

SAAD Program Director Myer G. Mula said in his message that there is a need for proper and complete documentation of all the projects implemented in each province covered by the program.

Dir. Mula added that in the last two years of the program, the implementers must focus on agripreneurship and the establishment of multiplier farms for livestock, poultry, and seeds and seedlings.

“We should set our minds that the ultimate goal of the DA banner programs and special projects is ‘Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita’. Our goal is to increase the production and income of the farmer,” Dir. Cameron Odsey of DA-CAR ended.

Writer: Evangeline Yambot, SAAD-CAR Information Officer
Copy Editor: Jennifer Valcobero, SAAD NPMO Public Relation and Comms Officer