SORSOGON, July 23, 2021 – Jenelita Alisoso, a mother of four in Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon, earned Php 33,300 from the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program’s swine production.

Jenelita is also a barangay police officer (barangay tanod) in La Esperanza who became a beneficiary of SAAD. She received two pigs (a gilt and a boar) in September 2019, which produced 8 piglets in August 2020.

To encourage the beneficiaries towards project productivity and sustainability, a roll-over scheme was agreed among the community members. Following this, two piglets of Jenelita were granted to a SAAD second-in-line beneficiary.

In October 2020, she earned Php 5,000 after selling two piglets at Php 2,500 per head.  The remaining four from the litter were cared for as fatteners but were sold abruptly at Php 3,000 each to avoid mortality from the rapid spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).

In January 2021, the sow got pregnant for the second cycle delivering 7 piglets. Meanwhile, she decided to sell the initial boar at Php 6,300 in the same month.

In April 2021, four piglets from the 2nd cycle were sold at Php 2,500 each giving her an income of Php10,000.

Table 1. Jenelita Alisoso’s income from SAAD swine production for 2020-2021

Jenelita generated an accumulated income of Php 33,300 from her swine production from October 2020 to April 2021, a significant extra income during the pandemic.

Agriculture is a family activity

Jenelita’s husband, Mr. Rey Alisoso works at the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sta. Magdalena as border control point personnel to supplement other expenses of the family.

Their combined income and the SAAD profits were used for the improvement and extension of their balcony while some of it was apportioned to pay for the remaining balance of their residential lot.

As remote learning demands logistics set up, Jenelita managed to purchase mobile phones equipping her children for online classes. She was also able to pay the tuition of her two children who are both in college.

Inspired by the yield of her enterprise, Jenelita bought two weanling piglets for sow production purposes.

“Nung wala pang SAAD, parang blanko. Wala kami ibang mapagkunan ng pang gastos kundi sa pag kopra lang namin noon. Nang dumating naman ang SAAD, lumuwag-luwag kami dahil hindi ko namalayan na ganoon kalaki yung naging kita ko sa baboy na binigay nila. Sobrang saya sa puso dahil malaki ang naitulong ng SAAD sa pamilya ko at sana hindi sila magsawa na tumulong saaming mahihirap,” Jenelita said.

[Before SAAD, we had no farming direction. We did not have other income resources to provide for our expenses except coconut farming (copra). SAAD’s intervention was a relief because I did not imagine that I would be able to earn this much from the swine grant. My heart is elated because of SAAD’s (livelihood) assistance to me and my family, I hope they continue to be of assistance to the marginalized.]

Recently, Jenelita takes care of a native sow, and two native gilts, which she plans to breed with the neighboring male pigs for selling. ###

 

Writer: Pauline Trixia Borja, DA-SAAD Sorsogon – Information Officer

Sources: PPMO Sorsogon, DA SAAD Bicol Region RPMSO

Photo Sources:

Pauline Trixia D. Borja

Aizel Grefalda,  Area Coordinator of Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon