The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Central Visayas, in coordination with the National Program Management Office, conducted data validation and evaluation activity in Bohol from February 2 to 6, 2026, to further strengthen the implementation of SAAD Phase 2.
The activity ensured the accuracy of beneficiary data and addressed possible discrepancies in the system through on-site validation. It also sought to improve strategies for quality data collection to support program analysis, planning, and reporting.
Data validation was carried out in the municipalities of Cortes, Alburquerque, and Lila, covering six farmer association (FA) beneficiaries—two associations per municipality.
Beneficiaries participated in one-on-one profiling sessions to verify and update previously collected information. The profiling covered key details such as demographics, land tenure, income, and other relevant data. The validated information will serve as a basis for decision-making, planning, and assessment of SAAD implementation in Central Visayas.
The SAAD team, led by Saturnino R. Palahang, Executive Assistant to the Director and Statistician, also paid a courtesy visit to Don Ritchie P. Buates, Mayor of Alburquerque. During the visit, the team presented the purpose of the activity and emphasized the importance of data gathering among SAAD project beneficiaries, noting that the generated data would contribute to deeper analysis of program performance.
Meanwhile, Jayson Coquilla, SAAD Alternate Assistant Regional Focal Person, underscored the importance of collecting accurate and updated baseline information from beneficiaries prior to and during the implementation of interventions.
“Naghimo mi og farmers’ profiling aron makuha ang baseline data bahin sa kita [income], kay mao gyud kini ang atong basihan aron masuta kung ang programa ug mga interventions sa SAAD nakatabang ba nga nisaka o ni-ubos inyong kita. Ang among hangyo mao ang matinud-anong paghatag sa inyong kasayuran, kay kini gyud ang mahimong basihan aron makita kung aduna ba’y nahimong kausaban sa inyong panginabuhian tungod sa SAAD.”
(We conducted farmers’ profiling to establish baseline income data, as this will serve as our basis in determining whether the SAAD program and its interventions have helped increase or decrease your income. We encourage you to provide accurate and honest information, as this will be used to assess whether there have been changes in your livelihood as a result of SAAD.)
One of the beneficiaries, Teresita B. Manon-og, President of the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Basacdacu (NAMASABA), shared that her participation in SAAD provided additional livelihood opportunities and helped augment their household income through gardening and cattle production.
“Sukad sa pag-join nako’g SAAD naa gyud mi’y na-income sa among garden, ug kabahin pud sa among cattle naa napud ko’y nabaligya gikan sa akong gialimahan nga baka gikan sa SAAD.”
(Since I joined SAAD, we have earned income from our garden. I was also able to sell a cow that was entrusted to me through the SAAD cattle program.)
She added that the cow she received on June 23, 2024 was sold on May 3, 2025 for Php 50,000. From the sale, Php 6,000 was returned to the association, while she earned a net income of Php 14,000 under the 70-30 sharing scheme. Part of the proceeds was also used to purchase another cow for the next fattening cycle.
SAAD Phase 2 continues to support poverty reduction by promoting agricultural development and improving the socio-economic conditions of farming communities through targeted interventions and data-driven planning. ###
