Three farmer associations supported by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program joined the celebration of Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Tapat Para sa Lahat, organized by the provincial government of Masbate on September 14, 2026, at the Capitol Grounds, Masbate City.
The said activity brought government programs, services, and assistance closer to Filipino communities through collaboration between national government agencies and local government units. As part of the 2026 nationwide celebration, the Provincial Government of Masbate provided a venue for government programs and beneficiaries to come together and showcase the services, assistance, and livelihood activities supported in the province.
Participants included the Banco Farmers Association, Piña Farmers Association, and Antipolo Farmers Association. These associations brought fresh and processed produce, giving members a chance to sell and showcase their products to visitors and other participants. Together, the three (3) DA-SAAD associations recorded Php 17,334.00 in sales during the whole-day celebration.
Banco Farmers Association, a recipient of the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), received support from DA-SAAD through training and the provision of seeds, fertilizers, and tools for its vegetable production. During the activity, they brought assorted fresh vegetables, including squash, eggplant, and bitter gourd. The association earned Php 11,309.00 in sales.
Piña Farmers Association, a beneficiary of DA-SAAD’s corn and cassava production, sold cassava chips and boiled corn and earned Php 3,625.00. The cassava chips were produced after the members learned processing techniques through Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) training, giving them another way to use and sell their farm produce.
Meanwhile, Antipolo Farmers Association brought fresh eggs sold by the tray and earned Php 2,400.00 in sales. The association received Ready-to-Lay (RTL) chickens, layer feeds, training, and marketing and processing tools under the SAAD Program to support their egg production.
During this activity, representatives from these associations also had the chance to meet retailers and regular market vendors to promote their products outside their usual market.
For the FAs, joining the celebration was not only about the sales made on the day. It also gave them an opportunity to gain experience in selling, introduce their products to more people, and make their associations known to possible buyers.
Merlinda Malabay, a member of Banco Farmers Association, said their participation was also about preparing the association for the time when SAAD assistance ends.
“Nag-participate kami sani na Handog ng Pangulo dili lang para makabaligya, kundi para mas makilala an amon asosasyon. Kay kun mawara na man an SAAD sa amon, ada gyapon kami nga asosasyon nga kilala san mga parabakal,” said Merlinda.
[We joined the Handog ng Pangulo celebration not just to make sales. Our goal is to ensure our association stays well-known and sustainable even after the SAAD program ends.]
Moving forward, the farmer associations will continue producing and marketing their products, while DA-SAAD monitors their progress and helps them build more market opportunities toward sustaining their enterprises beyond the program.###
Source: Ruby Joy R. Morados, Community Development Officer II
