QUEZON PROVINCE, May 17, 2023 – Allotting the first year of implementation solely to social preparation, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2 in CALABARZON convened for consultative meetings with the local government units (LGUs) representatives and farmers associations (FA), with the aim to coordinate the project’s implementation in the region.

The meeting was led by Alternate Regional Focal Person, Mr. Wilmer S. Faylon, last March 14 to 15, 2023, along with the 24 SAAD implementers from Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO), Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO), as well as the representatives of Provincial and Municipal Agriculturist Offices (MAOs), Municipal Council Offices, Mayor’s Office, Vice Mayor’s Office, and 15 farmers associations (FA) from Alabat, Quezon and Perez, Quezon Province.

Quezon Province is set to cater to 3 municipalities. These top 3 priority municipalities are among the poorest in the province based on PSA data – Alabat with 15.5% poverty incidence, Quezon (17%), and Perez (21.5%), respectively.

On top of the discussion, partners for SAAD provincial operations gained a better understanding on the concept of program’s guidelines and its direction in fulfilling the 4 components; Social Preparation,  Food Production and Livelihood, Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development, and Program Management.

Beneficiaries profiling

Fundamental and main activity prior to livelihood provision is the collection of relevant information from the beneficiaries under the profiling activity. In his remarks, Mr. Faylon introduced said activity which will serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and cross learning among farmers and their farm situation. To which, pre-selected beneficiaries and MAOs participants expressed agreement and participation.

“Hopefully po, magkaroon ng project through SAAD. [Sana] magkaroon ng project na may continuity. Hindi po yung isang bagsakan ang bigay tapos wala nang kasunod. Through the help of SAAD, atin po itong pagsumikapan mapaunlad,” Ms. Mary Rose Panol, Municipal Agriculturist of Quezon, Quezon, expressed.

(Hopefully, through the help of SAAD we can have a sustainable project. Not just one-time provision projects without follow up activities. Through SAAD, let’s work hard to help the projects grow.)

Collaborative relationship

Alabat, Quezon, and Perez municipalities through their representatives have committed their support for the SAAD operations by providing the necessary technical assistance. “Ako ay natutuwa na itong programa ay dadaan sa proseso na Participatory Rural Appraisal. Ibig sabihin ay makokonsulta kayo. Hindi ibababa lang ang proyekto at mapipilitan kayo gawin dahil may package deal na” (I am happy that the program has an activity such as Participatory Rural Appraisal which means you will be consulted and not forced to commit [to a project]  due to a package deal), Ms. Andrea V. Olase, Municipal Councilor of Perez, Quezon expressed.

In partnership with the MAOs, SAAD CALABARZON will be conducting beneficiaries profiling in the month of June, along with the continuation of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). ###

Writers: Pamela Faith M. Garcia, DA-SAAD CALABARZON Information Officer, Jonas Emmanuel T. Vergara, DA-SAAD CALABARZON Information Officer