CEBU, August 31, 2023 – For its Phase 2 implementation in Cebu, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program has identified its new areas of operation in 8 priority municipalities carrying the pursuit of localized agricultural development for most marginalized sectors. With this, DA-SAAD Central Visayas simultaneously conducted coordination meetings with the 8 local government units (LGUs) from July 11 to 14, 2023. 

Covering the municipalities of Alcoy, Alcantara, Boljoon, Malabuyoc, Tudela, Pilar, Samboan, and Ronda for SAAD Phase 2 based on 5th-6th income class classification and top-third poorest municipalities data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 2018, SAAD Alternate Focal Person Dr. Mayolyn Majaducon with Cebu Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) Marina Viniegas led the discussions emphasizing SAAD’s commitment to contribute to poverty reduction through the provision of agricultural interventions to the poor farming sectors. 

“Ang tumong sa SAAD program nga matabangan ang atong mga mag-uuma sa lagyong mga dapit sa lokalidad aron mapalambo  ang ilang panginabuhi pinaagi sa livelihood projects and specialized trainings apil na ang pagbaligya sa produkto sa maong proyekto,” Dr. Majaducon said.

(The objective of the SAAD program is to help our farmers in remote areas of the locality improve their lives through livelihood projects, specialized training, and the marketing of products.)

Tudela Vice-Mayor Erwin P. Yu also expressed his full support for SAAD’s goal of the establishment of community-based enterprises (CBEs), especially in his area in Camotes Island.

“Nice ning inyong mga programa no kay makatabang nis atong mga farmers ba, like for example naa mi diri shortage ug chicken eggs. Dako kayo ang demand pero kulang ang supply. Kung makahatag ang DA ug ing ani nga livelihood project nila, mas mayo. Dili na namo kinahanglan muangkat pa from Cebu City nga layo na kaayo sa isla,” Vice–Mayor Yu commented. 

(These programs are nice because they will be a big help to our farmers. For example, we have a chicken egg shortage here. The demand is very high, but the supply is insufficient. It will be beneficial if the DA will provide this kind of livelihood project. We will not have to travel to Cebu City to trade, which is quite far from the island.)

Meanwhile,  Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) representative in Malabuyoc, Gratchie Marie A. Villaruel, commended the SAAD team for coming over to the Southern part of the province which will be of great help to the municipality’s farmers, who are among the region’s poorest residents. 

Further, Alternate Focal Dr. Majaducon and APCO Viniegas also tackled ways with the local chief executives to improve linkages between the local farmers and the market to ensure that all the crops will be profitable through marketing assistance and enterprise development.

“We will be providing market assistance and enterprise development for our farmers. For instance, if they harvest tomatoes, we make sure that there is a market for the products. Also, specialized training will be conducted like tomato processing, so no produce goes to waste,” Viniegas explained. 

Social preparation for the target beneficiaries is currently being accelerated – from the conduct of BNA, profiling, and geotagging that will take place from July 24 to August 4. SAAD teams from Siquijor and Negros Oriental came together to help in the provincial program implementation in Cebu. ###

Writers: Jessica R. Alvero and Romeo Ruel M. Paras, DA-SAAD Central Visayas Information Officers