Sustaining the momentum of its livelihood gains, the United Brgy. San Antonio Sto. Tomas Farmers Association Inc. (USBSASTFAI) in Pangasinan has launched its second cattle fattener rollover project, made possible through income generated from the initial intervention of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2.
The association recently acquired twelve (12) head of purebred cattle fatteners from a local supplier in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, amounting to Php 516,000 or Php 43,000 per head. The purchase was funded through proceeds from the sale of their first batch of SAAD-provided cattle, which served as a seed capital for this second phase of their enterprise.
These newly-acquired cattle are part of a sustainable livelihood initiative aimed at improving the quality of life for local farmers while strengthening the community’s agricultural base. Each animal will be assigned to an individual member of the association to raise and fatten, with the shared goal of boosting household income and ensuring the long-term viability of the project.
According to USBSASTFAI Vice President Ludovico Palola, the association’s success is rooted in the collective commitment of its members.
“Makitkita me nga iti panagtitimpuyog akas grupo ket maaddaan iti panagprogresso iti asosasyon me. Akas ibilbilin me iti miyembro me ti asosasyon nga idda ayusen iti panagtaripato da dagiti baro nga baka nga naipaay knya da tapnu dumur-as iti maysa ken maysa kasta met ti asosasyon me,” said Palola.
[We see that through unity as a group, our association will progress. We remind our members to take care of the cattle given to them so that both the individual and the association will flourish.]
USBSASTFAI’s livestock venture, guided by the principles of shared responsibility and accountability, builds on the foundation laid by the initial cattle dispersal. This second cycle is expected to generate broader economic gains, reinforcing the association’s path toward resilience and self-sufficiency.
SAAD Area Coordinator Engr. Joshua T. Peduca emphasized the importance of responsible animal care in achieving collective success: “Iti mission ken vision ti asosasion ket ipagpaganetget tay kuma iti panagtaripato tapnu magud-od tayo iti success ti maysa ken maysa.”
[The mission and vision of the association is to encourage responsible animal care so that everyone may achieve success.]
More than a livelihood, the cattle rollover initiative embodies a rural development model rooted in cooperation, sustainability, and empowerment. With each completed cycle, the association moves closer to economic independence — creating ripples of progress not just within Sto. Tomas, but across the broader farming landscape of Pangasinan. ###
