TAGUIG, February 10, 2022 – Director Myer G. Mula and Special Concerns Officer Ian Kevin M. Sevilla of the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program National Program Management Office (NPMO) had second meeting with Director Fahri Burak Aydoğdu of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Philippines to discuss the project proposals submitted by the SAAD Regional Field Offices.

TIKA Philippines is one of the agencies that has helped provide interventions to the SAAD Program to some selected FAs in 2019 and 2020. In 2021, TIKA has ceased to support SAAD due to the pandemic.

Dir. Aydoğdu put emphasis for this CY 2022 and 2023 to continue provide livelihood intervention in SAAD Program areas in Mindanao (North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Norte) and the province of Sorsogon in Bicol. As of writing, a total of eight (8) project proposals, six (6) from agriculture sector (crops, poultry and livestock) (Table 1), and two (2) from the fisheries sector (Table 2), were shortlisted and will start within the year. The aforementioned projects have been reviewed by TIKA Philippines and are subject for referral to the TIKA Head Office in Ankara, Turkey for final evaluation and approval.

In addition, there are three (3) project proposals still for review, which are:

Table 3. Projects Up for Review

As proposed by TIKA, the organization will consider seeking suppliers near to the chosen target areas to boost local businesses and limit transportation costs.

Further, the agency is also open to sending Turkish university students for an immersion and outreach program to assist the farmers and fishermen in their agricultural activities. This will be done in coordination with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

TIKA Philippines is planning to visit SAAD sites in Sorsogon and provinces of Mindanao by March for project assessment.

Once the final list of projects is approved, a meeting with DA Secretary William D. Dar, USEC Ariel Cayanan and TIKA Philippines will be organized.

Writer: Ian Kevin M. Sevilla, Special Concerns Officer, SAAD National Program Management Office