SORSOGON, June 28, 2023 – Four (4) farmers’ associations (FAs) from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program’s Phase 1 accumulated Php 10,685.00 from selling eggs and other value-added products during the pre-SONA Serbisyo Caravan held on June 5, 2023 at the Sorsogon Provincial Capitol Grounds in Sorsogon City.

Among the FAs who joined the caravan are the Embarcadero Agri-Itik Farmers’ Association, Añog Corn Farmers’ Association, Barangay Magsaysay Farmers’ Association, and Naspi Agricultural Workers Association.

Led by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Bicol, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 5 (DA-RFO 5), the Nagakaka1sang Bumabangon: The 2023 Pre- State of the Nation Address (SONA) Serbisyo Caravan organized by different government agencies and stakeholders aims to showcase the locally grown products.

Sorsogon Vice Governor Krunimar Antonio Escudero together with the members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan, PIA Directorate, and PIA Regional Officials graced the opening ceremony of the event.

Among the products sold by the program beneficiaries are fresh chicken, duck eggs, and salted eggs. Meanwhile, value-added Filipino foods and delicacies such as processed corn, vegetable, corn polvoron, cassava cake, cassava chips, cassava chicharon, peanut roll, crispy pili, and banana chips were also sold during the event.

Table 1: Accumulated income from Serbisyo Caravan

“Sa mga pa-training nin SAAD naaraman mi po kung paano ang pag gibo nin food processing kaya maogma kami na naka-experience kami na magbenta ki sadiri ming produkto dae lang sa laog kang barangay mi kundi sa mga tawong hali sa iba’t ibang lugar nin Sorsogon. Dahil po digdi mas nagkusog po ang buot mi na ipadagos an mga naukodan mi sa SAAD ta naiiling mi po na padiit-diit namimidbidan asin natatangkilik kang mga tawo ang samuyang produkto.”

(We were able to learn how to make processed foods because of the SAAD program. We are grateful that we are able to sell our own products to the community and to different parts of Sorsogon. Our products are starting to become in demand and we feel more encouraged to continue producing and selling our products.)

Further, said FAs have been linked to the Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs) of Juban, Pillar, and Magallanes. Through partnership, the FAs can access technical guidance, training programs, and knowledge-sharing platforms facilitated by the MAOs. This support will enable them to improve their production techniques, enhance the quality of their agri-products, and increase their overall productivity. ###

Writer: Pauline Trixia D. Borja, SAAD Bicol Information Officer II
Sources: Mary Rose Detera, SAAD Bicol Region Associate Project Officer II, Maria Ligaya Renegado, Associate Project Officer I, Allen Ebuenga, and Jonas Guañizo, SAAD Bicol Community Development Officers
Photos: SAAD Sorsogon Staff