EASTERN SAMAR– Towards a better understanding and coordination, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program, through Director Bernadette San Juan, oriented its farmer-partners at PGO conference hall, Provincial Capitol Borongan Eastern Samar on May 9, 2017.

SAAD Region VIII Focal Person Dr. Andrew Orais, Provincial Agriculturist  Paano, and several Municipal Agriculturists and Agricultural Technicians along with numerous farmers from the municipalities of Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Maslog, Dolores, Balangkayan, Hernani, and Quinapondan Gen. Macarthur gathered together in the said event.

Dir. San Juan delivered her message of appreciation to the participants, encouraging them to further support the SAAD Program. After a short orientation and Program briefing, a planning workshop took place where the attendees enthusiastically identified their priority needs in their respective municipalities.

The leaders from each group (municipality) explained their output from the said workshop. The identified priority needs include tractors, water pumps, rice thresher, rice mill, corn sheller, fertilizers, vegetable seeds, corn seeds,  and rice seeds, on livestock, swine, goat and native chicken. Such needs will be assessed as part of the realignment of projects for the said areas.

Dir. San Juan, together with SAAD’s National Program Coordinator for Luzon and Visayas, Ulysses Lustria Jr. and Operations Head of National Program Management Office, Kristine Eusebio paid a site visit and consultation with the Tabi Rice Planters Association in Balangkayan E. Samar later the same day. ###