LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET, September 21, 2023 – With the successful completion of the provincial consultation in Benguet, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2 in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is now conducting municipal orientations, aimed at fostering collaborative relationship with program stakeholders in Kibungan, Sablan, and Tublay. 

Held on June 15, 2023, said orientation was conducted in La Trinidad, Benguet. It was facilitated by the five (5) implementers from the Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) and was attended by 15 by representatives from the Municipal Agriculturist Offices (MAOs) of the municipalities of Sablan and Kibungan, as well as representatives from the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) of Benguet. Alongside, Benguet Board member and Chair Committee on Agriculture, Ruben Paoad, and Kibungan Councilor Saturnino Tayag also attended the said orientation.

During the discussion, Ms. Aida Pagtan, Chief of DA – Regional Agricultural and Fishery Information Section (DA-RAFIS), provided an overview of the SAAD Program and explained the implementing rules and guidelines. 

Further, she discussed the social preparation component of SAAD Phase 2, which includes sub-components such as community needs assessment, beneficiary profiling, capacity building, and capacity development. Activities under these components involve beneficiary needs assessment, project tagging, organizational development, leadership training, advocacy, networking, and linkaging, as well as social mobilization. 

Ms. Analine Liccud and Mr. Jonatahn Gapad, DA-SAAD CAR Associate Project Officers, presented the coverage and beneficiary eligibility requirements and the mechanics of implementation. It was emphasized that area selection must cover the top one-third poorest municipalities based on the 2018 PSA Small Area Estimates and 5th to 6th income class municipalities. Aside from this, the program initiative will prioritize registered organizations. With this, SAAD CAR aims to target 6 FAs and 180 farmers from 6 barangays in Benguet for community organizing. 

Representatives from the local government gained a better understanding on the purpose of the guidelines and the program direction to highlight the fulfillment of the Program’s four (4) core components, which includes Program Management, Social Preparation, Production and Livelihood Interventions, and Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development – designed to sustain and maximize beneficiary development while under the program. 

Through this, the program will start conducting Food Production and Livelihood Component activities in 2024.### 

Writer: Maria Elena Catajan, DA-SAAD CAR, Information Officer