KALINGA, September 10, 2021 – The Tongrayan Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of Tinglayan, Kalinga were awarded Php 10,800,100 worth of agricultural projects as livelihood assistance aimed at establishing community-based enterprises from the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) of the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR).

SAAD Operations Officer Balag-ey Claver said without special projects such as the SAAD Program, remote areas not benefiting from the government’s programs for the past years would still not be reached. The project benefitted a total of 268 members of the community.

“We are not just here to turn over these projects but it is also your responsibility to receive it. Take them into your hearts ta kayat mi nga tumulong nga tulungan yu ti bagbagi yu. Sapay kuma ta isaad mi, mangamung kayun […Take them into your hearts because we want to help you help yourselves. I hope that we bring you these (interventions), now it is your responsibility],” Claver said.

Mr. Claver led the awarding of agricultural livelihood interventions, together with SAAD assistant Operations Officer Daisy Yogyog, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) Bentres Goyo, Albert Gayyaman from the Office of the Congressman, Jhun Puday from the Office of the Governor, Municipal Council Rommel Abuli, OIC-Municipal Agriculturist Hubert Patang-I, and SAAD Focal Person Johnny Chang-it, to Four Farmers Cooperative and Associations in Tinglayan on September 7.

Eleven (11) carabaos, two power tillers, 10 knapsack sprayers, grinder, 70 rolls of HDPE pipe, 70 bags of complete fertilizer, and 1,750 kilogram (kg) peanut seeds were delivered in partial support to the Carabao and Peanut Production Project. They were turned over to Barangay Ambato Liglig Irrigators Association (BALIGI-IA) with 70 members.

Meanwhile, another 70 farmers from Mallango UFI Farmer’s Organization (MUFO) received 813 ducks, two power tillers, 70 bags of complete fertilizer, 50 knapsack sprayers, grinder, 140 bags of both layer and grower feeds, and 1,750kg peanut seeds were distributed also in partial support to the Fruit Trees and Duck Production Project.

BALIGI-IA and MUFO members come from the FY 2021 expansion areas. Two more farmers’ cooperatives and associations namely the Magic 78 Lower Bangad Farmers Organization (M78LBFO) and Churawon Farmers Association (CFA) who became part of the program in 2020 were also awarded Integrated Banana, Pineapple, and Poultry Production as well as Fruit Trees and Duck Production, respectively. 

Mr. Goyo challenged the beneficiaries to look after their interventions as these will serve to start up their respective ventures which will hopefully help in their daily living finances. 

The projects are being implemented by the DA-SAAD Program in partnership with the provincial, municipal, and barangay local government units.

The projects seek to increase the income of farmers, secure food in their community, and encourage farmers to establish community-based enterprises.  

Aside from the agricultural inputs, training relative to their projects and organizational needs was also provided for good project management and strengthened organizations. ###

Writer: Sheena Phine B. Pisco-Dayagon, SAAD Kalinga Information Officer