DAVAO DE ORO, December 21, 2020 – Ten farmer-partners from the Mansaka indigenous people (IP) community, alongside 6 members of the auxiliary force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Brgy. Camanlangan, New Bataan – an ELCAC-covered area, were among the 100 beneficiaries who received chickens and other components from the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Region 11.

The picturesque barangay located on the upper part of the municipality has a thriving Mansaka community and an ongoing history of rebel activities. As a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA), it was identified as an appropriate delivery location for SAAD Region 11’s upgraded native chicken program. Several barangay purok on the upland parts were considered critical.

Mansaka farmers Adoracion Sojor and Ricardo Sojor, who are both seniors, were elated to receive the implements.  “Daghan jud kaayo akong pasalamat…nga gitagaan jud mi ani sa gobyerno. Pasalamat jud ko..kay kami pait jud kaayo (I am eminently grateful…that we’ve been given this by the government. I am thankful…because our life’s rough),” she said.

“Paningkamotan nato ni nga mapalambo…kay basig puhon diay makit-an sa mga taga-SAAD nga atong livelihood diri, maayo pagdumala, so madayon nga muhatag…ug other projects [We need to strive to develop this (referring to the program), as in the future, SAAD may see that our livelihood here is well-managed, so they’ll decide to give…other projects], “ Sgt. Junald Portacio of 66th Infantry Battalion, head of the area’s community development team, urged the farmers. Sgt. Portacio, alongside his men, assisted in the distribution of the project.

Before the distribution, SAAD Region 11 identified beneficiaries and conducted training in the area, orienting the beneficiaries on how to handle and manage the chickens.

The implements, costing Php 556,716.40, consisted of 8 chickens (6 pullets and 2 cockerels), 50kg of feed, 8-in-1 vegetable seed packets, and assorted biologics for each beneficiary. A total of 800 native chickens were delivered. ###

Writer: James Brian R. Flaga, SAAD RPMSO 11 Information Officer

Source: DA-SAAD Davao de Oro