NEGROS ORIENTAL, August 27, 2021 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in Region 7 provided 30 cattle worth Php 33,000 each to Mabinay farmers on August 16 in Negros Oriental.
The provision is under SAAD’s Php 1,433,160 worth of Backyard Cattle Fattening Project (FY 2021 budget).
Thirty farmers from Banban Farm Family Association in barangay Banban (10), Nagkahi-usang Tribung-Ata sa Lamdas in barangay Lamdas (10), and Paniabonan Rural Improvement Club in barangay Paniabonan (10) received a cattle each.
They are yet to receive a forage chopper worth Php 350,000 (communal), 30 bags of feeds worth Php 30,000 (a bag per farmer), and 30 bottles of vitamins worth Php 27,828 (a bottle per farmer).
The distribution was done through a “draw lots” scheme where beneficiaries were randomly assigned from 1 to 30 according to their attendance form. The first cattle that was dismounted from the carrier will be assigned to the beneficiary who first filled out the attendance form and so on until they reach the 30th cattle.
SAAD beneficiary Sharmaine Lyn B. Rica from barangay Lamdas said, “Dako kayo among kalipay tungod aning programa nga SAAD. Thank you kaayo kay nakaapil kami ani, kaming mga mag-uuma…ug sa tanan-tanang ng ana-involve ani nga programa. Usa lang among saad sa barangay Lamdas nga among palamboon kini nga programa. Thank you.”
(I am very happy because of the program. Thank you so much for including us farmers in your program. To all the SAAD program staff, thank you. On behalf of barangay Lamdas, we promise to sustain and improve the program. Thank you.)
“Ang akong gibati karon isip usa sa mga beneficiary sa SAAD, nalipay ko’g dako kay sa among barangay dugay na kayo mi nga wala kadawat ug mga maayong programa o mga kaayohan nga gikan sa gobyerno. So, dako kaa nako’ng pasalamat ug gibati gyud nako ang dakong kalipay as one of the beneficiaries ng nakadawat niining ma-ong baka. Sa SAAD, okay kayo ang ilang mga gipaambit sa mga katawhan hilabi na namong’ mga kabus. Mapasalamaton ‘mi ug dako sa Among mayor, vice mayor ug ni Ma’am Princess Akimi ug ni Ma’am Lanie Malacapayug sa tanan-tanan nga staff ug mga technicians. Daghan kaayong Salamat,” said Ferlyn C. Castillo from barangay Paniabonan.
(As a SAAD beneficiary, I am very happy because for a long time, our barangay has not received any government aid. Now, I am very grateful for this program for giving us the cattle. The program is a huge help to those who struggle financially and I am happy because I am one of the chosen beneficiaries. We are also thankful for our mayor, vice mayor, Ma’am Lanie Malacapayug, our Area Coordinator, Miss Princess Akimi, and to all SAAD staff and technicians. Thank you so much.)
The Mabinay beneficiaries agreed to follow the agreements stated on the MOA by heart. The associations also seek to expand the project in the future by saving from their income shares for another set of bulls for fattening.
Also present in the activity were Vice Mayor Ernie T. Uy, Sangguniang Bayan member Enozario Baldoza, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Sarah J. Perocho, Municipal Agriculture Officer Lelanie A. Malacapay, Mabinay local government unit Agricultural Technicians and staff, and SAAD Negros Oriental team headed by Provincial Coordinator Johnpaulie O. Sunico. ###
Writer: Jolina T. Daño, Information Officer
Source: Jehson Campos and Princess Akimi F. Macabinguil
Documentation: Johnpaulie O. Sunico and May A. Pialago
