Davao de Oro, April 24, 2020 – While faced with disrupted socio-economic conditions, the DA-SAAD Region 11 fulfills its mandate of advancing food sustainability and livelihood of their local agricultural stakeholders. A total of 6,000 heads of upgraded native chicken were successfully distributed to farmer-beneficiaries from the municipalities of Pantukan and Maco, Davao de Oro on April 15-17, 2020 and April 21-24, 2020, respectively.

During the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), six (6) barangays from two (2) municipalities, namely Barangays Araibo, Tagugpo, and Napnapan in the municipality of Pantukan and Barangays Panangan, Calabcab and Magangit in the municipality Maco, Davao de Oro equally apportioned the native chickens and packs of vegetable seeds.

The Native Chicken Production Project which costs Php 3,983,400.00 covered under the 2019 SAAD funding, aims to secure food supply and income to the farmer-beneficiaries. Every farmer received a package of five (5) head of pullets; four (4) of which are female or hens and one (1) male or rooster, with supplementary materials such as one (1) bag of 25 kg feed ingredients, and one (1) unit of chicken waterer amounting to Php 3,319.50/farmer. A total of 1,200 farmer beneficiaries (200 per barangay) were benefitted by this project.

The packs of vegetable seeds granted is in accordance to the DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program, wherein a pack of 8-in-1 vegetable seeds consisting of ampalaya, okra, eggplant, tomato, pechay, pole sitao, squash, and kangkong is to ensure the availability of vegetables through their backyard especially in this time of crisis.

In addition, according to Ms. Naomi Lamata (Region 11 SAAD Program Coordinator), food packs consisting among others such as eggs (to reduce malnutrition incidence in the province) were distributed.

Despite the ECQ and many other challenges brought by the CoViD-19 pandemic, the distribution activity was successfully conducted through the strong support of the Provincial Local Government Unit of Davao de Oro, Municipal Local Government Unit of Maco and Pantukan, and the six (6) Barangay Local Government Units, in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Farmers are grateful and able to attest that the government unceasingly fulfills their commitment to the grassroots through the SAAD Program. ###

Writers: Jake Darren Colina, DA SAAD 11 Area Coordinator II, Jessamae Gabon, DA SAAD NPMO Public Relations, and Communications Officer

Source: RAFIS 11, Naomi G. C. Lamata, SAAD Region 11 Program Coordinator

Photo Courtesy of RAFIS 11, Agri Info Davao (@daregion11), Special Area for Agricultural Development – Davao (@dasaadxi)