MIMAROPA, October 2, 2023 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) MIMAROPA reported in a midyear assessment that it has surpassed 52% of its financial obligation, achieving significant progress from January to June 2023.

During this period, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA obligated 52% or Php 25,343,705.51 from its Php 48,473,000 FY 2023 budget allocation. Accounting for 37% of the obligated funds, the implementing unit successfully disbursed Php 9,329,251.09.

Ms. Marissa DV Vargas, the Operational Planning, Budget, Monitoring, and Evaluation (OPBME) Lead at the SAAD MIMAROPA Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO), led the assessment held in Odiongan, Romblon. A total of 33 representatives from the National Program Management Office (NPMO), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) SAAD MIMAROPA, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), the Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO) of Romblon, the Research Division, Regional Agriculture Engineering Division (RAED), Provincial Program Management Support Offices of SAAD MIMAROPA, and Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs) of Looc, Alcantara, Calatrava, Ferrol, San Andres, Santa Maria, and San Jose.

Result of regional midyear assessment in SAAD MIMAROPA 

SAAD MIMAROPA, headed by its Regional Focal Person and the Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) MIMAROPA, Engr. Maria Christine C. Inting highlighted the implementers’ completion on the conduct of Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA), profiling activities, and Capacity-building Training (CBT) focused on Organizational Management  to 43 farmers associations (FAs) from Romblon (26), Palawan (12), and Occidental Mindoro (5) under the Program’s Social Preparation component.

Under the Food Production and Livelihood component, the operating unit conducted 26 specialized trainings to 610 members from 26 FAs preparing them for the implementation of rice, corn, high-value crop, and livestock projects. To date, SAAD MIMAROPA implemented 19 out of 34 livelihood projects under vegetable production (9), rice production (4), corn production (2), arrowroot production (1), root crops production (2), and cattle production (2), benefiting 545 members from 22 farmers associations (FAs).

This significant progress of SAAD MIMAROPA was presented by Associate Project Officer Engr. Maiden Marie M. Segui, including the utilization status of the region’s budget, and proposed projects and activities for 2024.

SAAD MIMAROPA also organized specialized training sessions focused on enhancing the skills of beneficiaries in managing SAAD livelihood projects. These training covered various areas, including goat farming, vegetable cultivation, poultry-related activities, cashew processing, and entrepreneurial management. As for the remaining livelihood projects such as goat, cattle, and swine productions, scheduled to be distributed in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Further, Mr. Jerech Flauta and Mr. Paul John Onrubia from NPMO introduced using the KoboToolBox application for accurately geo-referencing SAAD project sites for enhanced geo-mapping accuracy.

Looking ahead, projects and activities for the next year include a Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) to identify potential additional beneficiary associations, strengthening production through the Food Production and Livelihood Component, and training in marketing and enterprise development.

SAAD MIMAROPA pledged to strengthen the collaboration with stakeholders to ensure smooth run of Phase 2 project implementations in Romblon, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro. ###

Writer: Melissa F. Lingco, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Information Officer