The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Central Visayas conducted a monitoring activity on February 18, 2026, covering the individual production areas and carabaos distributed to members of the Calvario Farmers Association in Barangay Calvario, Lila.
The activity formed part of the implementation of the Vegetable and Carabao Production with Marketing and Enterprise Project, which was focused on strengthening farmers’ livelihoods through sustainable agricultural support.
A total of 13 individual farmer-beneficiaries were visited and assessed, focusing on the condition, utilization, and productivity of their vegetable gardens and distributed carabaos. Monitoring results showed that beneficiaries maintained diverse standing crops such as corn, eggplant, okra, squash, sweet potato, onion, pechay, kangkong, patola, ampalaya, alugbati, cucumber, and other vegetables suited to upland production.
Also, several of the distributed carabaos were reported to be pregnant or suspected pregnant, one had recently given birth earlier in the month, while others were still young and growing – indicating gradual herd development among beneficiaries.
This activity also provided an opportunity to assess current performance, identify challenges encountered by farmers, and deliver the necessary technical assistance to ensure that project interventions continued to generate economic benefits.
According to the designated Area Coordinator, Mercedes Calamba, the activity began with a courtesy call to the Municipal Agriculture Office of Lila through the Municipal Agriculturist, Engr. Jorge Lester C. Caiña, to inform local officials about the monitoring schedule and target beneficiaries. Upon arrival in the barangay, farmer-members accompanied the coordinator to their respective production sites, allowing on-site validation of project implementation and direct consultation regarding farming practices and concerns.
Farmer-beneficiary Apolinario Piollo expressed his gratitude for the program’s support and its positive impact on their livelihood.
“Nagpasalamat ko’g dako nga niabot ang SAAD sa among kinabuhi isip mga mag-uuma. Gipangtagaan mi og mga interventions nga dako kaayo og natabang sa among panginabuhian, ilabi na ang mga kabaw. Makalipay gyud kaayo nga sa among kalisod bitaw kay murag naluag-luag among kinabuhi. Nagpasalamat pud ko sa among area coordinator nga maoy nagpakahago intawn og suroy-suroy sa kabukiran para magmonitor ug kumustahon unsay dagan sa pag-uma diri sa bukid,” Piollo shared.
(I am very grateful that SAAD came into our lives as farmers. We were provided with interventions that greatly helped our livelihood, especially the carabaos. In difficult times, it felt as if our lives became easier. I also thank our area coordinator for tirelessly traveling to the upland areas to monitor and check how farming is going here in the mountains.)
The monitoring activity underscored the importance of regular field visits in development programs, particularly in ensuring the proper use of government assistance, sustaining productivity, and strengthening farmer engagement. Continuous monitoring also enabled implementers to provide timely technical guidance, address emerging concerns, and build trust between beneficiaries and program personnel.
Through sustained monitoring and support, the DA-SAAD Program remained committed to empowering farmer associations like the Calvario Farmers Association toward improved income, food security, and long-term agricultural sustainability.
