BAYANG, LANAO DEL SUR, February 4, 2021 – A total of 50 farmers in Bayang received 2,400 ready-to-lay (RTL) chicken (48 modules) and 50 cages from the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Bayang has long been battling indigence. In 2015, it had a 66.48% poverty incidence rate which made the municipality a beneficiary of the program.

Just when the program was set to distribute the project, the five-month-long Marawi Siege hindered the implementers from accessing the whole province, thus, the delivery of agricultural supports got delayed.

Furthermore, the pandemic hindered the delivery. The CoViD-19 caused lockdown restrictions in different areas. When it was lifted, the program management in SAAD Northern Mindanao immediately delivered the livelihood aid.

The distribution of livelihood support graced by the Mayor Aslani P. Balt will help the beneficiaries cope with the pandemic for both food consumption and as a source of income.

“We are very thankful this project reached our municipality. We have been waiting for this for more than a year and now that it has finally arrived, it is very timely with the still ongoing pandemic,” said Mayor Balt.

“This project may seem like it only produces an egg, but with hard work and perseverance, we can turn this project into something more than that. Aside from their daily consumption, this (project) will also serve as an added income for their household,” he added.

Bayang Municipal Agriculturist Mohammad Saif Gasanara also vows to look over the project’s sustainability.

“As MAO of Bayang, we will conduct close monitoring of the project. If there are new technologies, we will introduce them to the farmers to expand their knowledge,” furthered Gasanara.

“To our beneficiaries, work hard and do not be idle while handling this project. Because at the end of the day, this project will only prosper depending on how you maintain it,” Gasanara added.

Also present during the activity are SAAD Head Secretariat, Lana May S. Racines, and SAAD Northern Mindanao regional staff.

As of now, the SAAD Program is working closely with the DA’s Research Division to conduct an Egg Production Training for the farmers in Bayang. This is essential to equip them with knowledge on how to sustain the intervention given. ###

Writer: Ruth Esther Bermundo, SAAD Region 10 Information Officer