KALINGA, December 14, 2022 – To provide assistance to community-based enterprises, six (6) farmers’ associations (FAs) in Tinglayan were awarded with Php 4,569,200 worth of agricultural livelihood assistance from the Department of Agriculture–Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program funded under the FY 2022. This will be the last wave of assistance to be given as the Phase 1 implementation of the program ends this December.

On November 29, representatives gathered in Barangay Upper Bangad, Tinglayan to formally receive the livelihood projects.

Table 1. 2022 Livelihood Projects received by FAs in Tinglayan

Each FA aims to establish a local supply of the commodities they produced under the respective projects. These projects were initiated to aid in the minimal supply, or strengthen production of agri-commodities in their community to increase self-sufficiency and avoid reliance on other cities’ supply.

Given their areas, production within the community will be beneficial and will give earning opportunities to the locals. Their main source of income include rice farming, coffee and legumes production. Supplemented by the projects DA-SAAD, crops, livestock, machinery, and training interventions will help FAs to acquire additional livelihood.

Among the FA recipients, the Mallango Ufi Farmers Association, Barangay Ambato Liglig Irrigators Association, Churawon Tribe Farmers Association, and the Magic 78 Lower Bangad Farmer’s Organization already have established CBEs.

During the event, the Churawon Tribe Farmers Association received 2 units incubator, 2 units generator, and 100 bags fertilizer for the enhancement of their duck and fruit trees production, while the Magic 78 Lower Bangad Farmer’s Organization received  1 unit generator, 1 unit grinder, 2 units coffee solar dryer, and 1 unit coffee pulper according to their request since it was their existing crop before SAAD.

Meanwhile, the Mallango Ufi Farmers Association, Barangay Ambato Liglig Irrigators Association were already able to receive all interventions last October yet they are awarded with a certificate during the said ceremony.

Further, the Belong Manubal Sustainable Development Association and Masinta Farmers Association who operate partially-established CBEs continue to receive production inputs such as feed subsidy and assistance from the agricultural office until the groups are able to operate independently.

A sustainability plan will be implemented by the FAs to ensure the success of the DA-SAAD projects. Said plan includes completion of financial reports and opening of bank accounts. Since they were already endorsed to the local government unit of Tinglayan, technical assistance and guidance from the  Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO) is guaranteed. Training needed by the FAs will be facilitated by the office, as well.

Governor James S. Edduba, represented by Executive Assistant Rachel Dumallig, encouraged the beneficiaries for their continued unity and cooperation in managing awarded projects for them to improve their lives in line with the flagship of his administration – “Lumin-awa Kalinga” (At peace with Kalinga).

“We are hoping that after some years, we can finally see the impacts of these projects in this municipality,” Ms. Dumallig added.

Mayor Sacrament Gumilab, represented by Municipal Agriculturist (MA) Hubert Patang-i, extended his gratitude to the program for providing livelihood interventions, which the municipality can hardly provide due to its limited budget. MA Patang-i also gave appreciation for the assistance of the DA-SAAD staff to the beneficiaries in managing their projects and in strengthening their FAs.

With the exit of the SAAD Program in the municipality by the end of 2022, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) Balag-ey A. Claver also urged the local government units and farmer leaders to help continue to bring the government’s support to marginalized farmers until they can fully stand on their own. ###

Writer: Sheena Phine P. Dayagon, DA-SAAD Kalinga Information Officer