SURIGAO DEL SUR, August 26, 2021— Program Director Myer G. Mula of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD), along with the regional implementers from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 13 led by Regional Executive Director (RED) Abel James I. Monteagudo and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Edgardo P. Balambao visited two farmers’ associations (FAs) in Surigao del Sur on August 24.

The FAs were the Balete Chicken Growers Association (BACGA) in Bayabas and the Soong Fisherfolk Association (SOFAS) in Tago.

BACGA (31 members) is investing in the native chicken production project provided by the program in 2019. As of June 2021, the association reported an accumulated earnings of Php 117,257 from selling eggs, chicks, and live weight chicken.

Meanwhile, SOFAS (20 members) is a recipient of Milkfish (Bangus) Culture in Cage under the FY 2019 budget. According to association president Ferdinand Arpilyeda Montero, they already earned an estimated gross income of Php 340,000 from selling bangus in 2020 in two cropping seasons.

Together with RED Monteagudo and ARD Balambao, he also paid a courtesy meeting with Bayabas Mayor Maria Clarita Limbaro. Director Mula discussed the directions of the SAAD Program and presented the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), which he eyes to complement the entrepreneurial phase of the SAAD Program.

The activity was coordinated with LGU-Bayabas led by Mayor Limbaro and Municipal Agriculturist Geralyn B. Guibao. Also present were DA-SAAD Deputy Focal Person Jekem D. Sanchez and staff (Provincial and Municipal Coordinators). ###

Writer: Mark Angelo Pineda, Information Officer- DA-SAAD Caraga
Sources: Star Lou Tandungon, Technical Staff- BFAR-Caraga
DA-SAAD Caraga