SORSOGON, August 5, 2021 – Sorsogon farmers received 100 goats from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural (DA-SAAD) Program as a boot-up input for livestock production in Pilar on July 30.

Fifty-four (54) members of the Sacnangan Farmers Association got 80 does, 20 upgraded bucks, planting materials, laminated sacks, drums, biologics, and forage chopper under the SAAD’s Provision of Goats and Feeds Project.

The interventions were turned over at a ceremony led by the SAAD Program Provincial Coordinator Mary Rose Detera, and Area Coordinator Jonas Guañizo held in Brgy. Sacnangan.

The farmers of Brgy. Sacnangan were chosen by the SAAD Program because of their area’s capacity to raise and feed the goats and in turn become the local distributor of goats and their by-products.

The SAAD-established association was organized in June 2020 and is a recognized farmer group under the Department of Labor and Employment.

Pilar local government unit (LGU) is in full support of the SAAD project for its constituents, having officials as attendees and witnesses of the turnover ceremony. Present in the event were Municipal Vice Mayor of Pilar Hon. Luis Leosala Jr.,  LGU Livestock Coordinator Mrs. Marife Duza, BFAW (Barangay Fisheries and Agriculture Workers ) Victor Rivera, Kagawad Anabel Borabon, Committee on Agriculture Kagawad Rolly Nebreja, and Barangay Secretary Ednalyn Prencepe.

Before the turnover, health supplements and technical assistance were administered by the LGU livestock coordinator with the help of municipal agriculturist Jay-ar Alcantarato securing the animals’ good condition.

“Dakulang pasasalamat mi sa SAAD Program dahil kung wara sinda, dai kita kaini magkakaigwa. Ngunyan na nakapuon na kita, padaguson asin pauswagon ta ining tinaong ayuda kang gobyerno. Gigibuhon ko ang gabos na makakaya ko bilang Presidente kan asosasyon na padakulaon ang satuyang proyekto sa kandingan tanganing sa masunod na opisyales na masalida, mapadagos ninda ang satuyang napuonan,” Sacnangan FA chairperson Mr. Carlos Yuzon expressed his gratitude to the program after being selected as recipients among the 49 barangays in Pilar.

[My overwhelming gratitude to the SAAD Program because they give us the chance to start a small livelihood. With this grant, I encourage everyone to fulfill our obligations. As the president of the association, I will make sure that this goat project will prosper and eventually turn this to the next generation of association members.]

Recognizing the benefits of the program’s inputs to the farmers of Pilar, Vice Mayor Leosala encourages them to own and enrich the livelihood opportunity.

He said, “…kung gaano ta kapadaba ang satuyang pamilya, ituring ta man na pamilya ang mga kanding. Atamanon tang marhay para sa maabot na panahon, yaon na digdi ang kadaklan na produkto kan kambingan.”

[Treat these goats with the same affection we have for our loved ones. Give them the care they need so when the time comes, we will be blessed by the products that came from them.]

Before the awarding, recipients of the livestock inputs underwent training on goat production conducted by the SAAD Program in partnership with the LGU in February 2021.###

 

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

Sources: Pauline Trixia D. Borja, DA-SAAD Sorsogon Information Officer

Photo Credits: Mr. Jay-ar Alcantara of MAO and SAAD Program Sorsogon