MANDAUE CITY, January 17, 2024 – During the Regional Year-end Assessment of the Field Operations Division (FOD) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Visayas, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program reported an achievement of 91.86% obligation rate from its FY 2023 approved budget and from the obligated funds, 56.75% was disbursed as of December 19, 2023. 

Said figures can be translated to the regional operating unit’s physical performance as 32 livelihood projects implemented, 48 social preparation activities conducted, and 33 specialized training provided to 32 farmers associations with 1,200 members from 24 SAAD-covered municipalities in the region. 

For 2023, SAAD Central Visayas covering the provinces of Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bohol received an approved General Appropriations Act (GAA) of Php 60,619,000. Projects implemented include Integrated Cattle Fattening and High-Value Crop Production, Chicken Egg Production with High-Value Crops, Cattle Fattening and Vegetable Production, Vegetable and Carabao Production, Carabao and Ube Production, Vegetable Production and Swine fattening, Cattle and Sweet Corn Production and Establishment of Chicken Egg Production which will be supported until 2025.  

During the activity, DA-Central Visayas FOD Chief Gerry S. Avila commended the team for their untiring efforts to keep track of its program implementation – from simultaneous conduct of the Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) as SAAD’s tool for its social preparation component, preparation for specialized training to be conducted, up until the delivery of livelihood projects to the farmer-beneficiaries, and helping them sustain and develop their community-based enterprises (CBEs). 

Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez acknowledged the team in her parting speech for continuously monitoring the livelihood projects provided to the FAs in each province covered by the program.

“Please congratulate yourselves because these accomplishments show that you all worked hard this year. You are all a part of these,” Dir. Enriquez added.

As the region looks forward to this year, SAAD Central Visayas is committed to fast-track deliveries of production support and providing extended assistance for market connections to the 48 FAs to create community-based enterprises. The remaining 8.14% unobligated funds will be used as a continuing fund for FY 2024 project implementation. ###

Writer: Jessica R. Alvero, DA–SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer
Source: DA–SAAD Central Visayas