BICOL, December 15, 2021 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Bicol reported a projected 100% physical accomplishment for this year’s target agricultural interventions initiatives during the region’s year-end assessment.

The assessment, conducted in Naga City on December 13, aimed at evaluating the status of project deliveries and target accomplishments of its covered provinces – Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

The regional team reviewed the implementation and set the directions for 2022.

SAAD Bicol capped off a strong year with the delivery of the machines before the year ends completing its target projects’ implementation.

As of November 30, 2021, SAAD Bicol data, the region delivered 42 projects under the Rice, Corn, High-Value Crops, Organic Agriculture, and Livestock Production and Enterprise Development. There are 88 specialized training conducted, benefitted 1,430 individual beneficiaries, and 152 active farmers’ associations (FA) with 5,505 members. There are 17 established associations whose members are about to graduate from the program, and 45 out of the 152 FAs are women-led, while there are 7 FAs led and organized by the indigenous cultural communities (ICCs).

Financial obligation is at 89.76%, while the disbursement is at 60.40%.

Provincial Coordinators presented their physical accomplishments, updates on established enterprises, and a list of SAAD associations ready for graduation from various projects of the DA-SAAD for 2022.

There were already established and partially established enterprises in the three covered provinces, and those partially established will remain recipients of interventions from the program.

On the other hand, the established enterprises of the SAAD beneficiaries, with some of them already linked to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other government agencies, will no longer receive a package of interventions from the DA-SAAD as per its guidelines but will still be monitored, linked, and endorsed to the regular programs of the DA. Hence, the SAAD beneficiaries for graduation will be replaced by new associations.

SAAD Sorsogon headed by Provincial Coordinator Mary Rose A. Detera was the sole province that identified 17 associations from Donsol, Juban, Magallanes, Matnog, Pilar, and Sta. Magdalena ready to graduate as SAAD beneficiaries. The 17 associations composed of 717 individuals are recipients of rice, corn, high-value crops, organic, and duck projects.

Provincial Coordinator Jose M. Barquero from Masbate and Melrose B. Buetre from Catanduanes also presented the same updates. Beneficiaries of the DA-SAAD from the two provinces will still receive interventions for 2022.

SAAD Information Technology (IT) Officer Jonathan Claro said the updating of the beneficiaries’ profiles is ongoing. Mr. Claro is closely coordinating with the IT officers from the national office for the completion of the profile of all the SAAD beneficiaries from 2018 to 2021.

The profiling will create a database to assist the DA-SAAD personnel in the monitoring of the beneficiaries and projects delivered by the program.

Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla was also present during the assessment. He recalled what was then the Regional Executive Director Elena De Los Santos told the SAAD pioneer staff, “isip at puso” [mind and heart] wayback 2018 when the program started in the region.

Director Tornilla reiterated to work with heart in reaching the farmers because most likely, the rural marginalized farmers are first-time beneficiaries who will be involved and tapped for a development initiative.

SAAD Bicol Action Officer Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriguez also showed full support to the program and staff by attending the activity and inspiring them to value the program and continue the good performance.

Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) of Masbate Wilfredo J. Nelmida and APCO of Catanduanes Rafael S. Magallanes also attended the assessment.

During the afternoon session, Information Officer Angelica A. Blanco presented the number of published articles per province and set a working plan for 2022 for more efficient public relations and communications activities.

Meanwhile, to further improve the delivery and implementation of projects, SAAD Report Officer Maribeth A. Mangalino presented the general observations on the recently concluded Regional Result-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Rapid Appraisal (RBMERA) in Catanduanes and Sorsogon.

During the RBMERA, the DA-SAAD Bicol was able to grasp other needs of the beneficiaries such as training on values formation, and financial literacy aside from the enterprise development training given by the DA-SAAD.

The training will assist the beneficiaries in having an organized and stable organization. The direction from the focus on the individual to the association also has a great impact on the beneficiaries. As an association, they were provided with interventions in which the group could manage together and unite in developing their enterprise.

For the next year’s RBMERA, Masbate will be included which will be led by SAAD national office.

The year-end assessment is one of the activities of the SAAD Bicol that aims to harmonize project implementation of the program, assess the achievement of targets per province, and provide updates on important SAAD activities. ###

Writer: Angelica Blanco, SAAD RPMSO Information Officer

Sources:

Maribeth A. Mangalino, SAAD Report Officer,

Mary Rose A. Detera, Sorsogon Provincial Coordinator

Photo Sources: Carlito La Torre, SAAD RPMSO IT Officer