BICOL, February 23, 2024 – As part of the program’s preparatory efforts to cater to the needs of its current and future beneficiaries, the regional and provincial implementers of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in Bicol Region held a Regional Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Planning and Budget Workshop on January 23-26, 2024.

Spearheaded by SAAD Bicol Assistant Focal Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriguez, the workshop aimed at identifying and evaluating potential interventions for the program’s beneficiaries for the upcoming FY 2025.

The drafted FY 2025 proposal will then be presented in the In-house Technical Review Workshop and the FY 2025 National Planning and Budget Workshop of the SAAD Program – Phase 2 in preparation for the National Expenditure Program for FY 2025.

Drafting of the SAAD 2025 Proposal

Before the workshop, provincial and area coordinators of the program had already conducted various monitoring activities for the program’s Phase 2 beneficiaries. The coordinators determined the beneficiaries’ needs to sustain their agricultural production during these activities. The Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) consolidated and validated the listed inputs.

During the workshop, the Provincial Program Management Support Offices (PPMSOs) from Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon then presented their proposed interventions for 60 farmers associations (FAs) across its 20 covered municipalities. A series of questions and evaluations took place to ensure the importance and feasibility of their proposed inputs.

Emphasizing the importance of product marketability, the RPMSO reiterated that current beneficiaries are expected to engage in the program’s Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development Cluster projects and packages. This implies that the current associations should be partially or fully established Community-based Enterprises (CBEs) by the end of SAAD Phase 2. Accordingly, the drafted proposal of interventions should steer more towards increasing the production level and cater to the marketing and entrepreneurial needs of the FAs.

Moreover, matters and concerns for the 2024 implementation were discussed, including target dates for intervention distribution, production & livelihood training, and other upcoming regional and national events. 

Meanwhile, several members of the SAAD Technical Working Group were also present at the activity, including SAAD Bicol Alternate Assistant Focal Person Renato Acasio, SAAD Report Officer Maribeth Mangalino, and Agricultural Program Coordinating Officers for Sorsogon and Masbate, Florentino Ubalde, Jr. and Wilfredo Nelmida. Also present were the Research Outreach Station Superintendents for Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon, Dean L. Medrano, Lani Columna, and Pedro Oliver. These key officials each gave insightful comments and reminders in drafting the 2025 proposal.

By 2025, the SAAD Program looks to continue providing agricultural support to its current 60 farmers’ associations by guiding them into becoming dynamic agripreneurs before graduating from the Program. This entails offering tailored training on enterprise establishment, provision of enterprise-building interventions, and linkages to more marketing opportunities. ###

Writer: Juan Paulo A. Quizana, Associate Project Officer

Source: Maribeth A. Mangalino, SAAD Bicol Report Officer

             Raynette B. De Jesus, SAAD Bicol Information Officer