To ensure the sustainability of livelihood projects implemented under SAAD Phase 1, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) MIMAROPA conducted a Phase 1 Monitoring and Recovery Plan Workshop on January 20 to 22 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
The three-day activity, which gathered local government units (LGUs) and partner agencies, assessed the current condition of Phase 1 associations, identified implementation gaps, and finalized recovery strategies that will guide LGUs in managing and sustaining the projects.
On behalf of DA MIMAROPA Regional Director and SAAD Regional Focal Person Atty. Christopher R. Bañas, Regional Technical Director for Operations Emerson S. Yago formally opened the program.
In his message, RTD Yago emphasized the importance of learning from the challenges encountered during Phase 1 implementation and applying best practices to ensure that government investments translate into sustained enterprises. He also highlighted the important role of beneficiaries’ active participation in ensuring the continuity of the projects.
“Sana mas maging malinaw sa atin ano ‘yong mga challenges in the past sa Phase 1 na pwede nating maayos and ano ‘yong best practices na pwede nating i-apply para hindi masayang ang efforts at pondo na nilaan doon. ‘Yong ating mga beneficiaries, sana nandoon lagi ‘yong pagiging masigasig o aktibo kasi sayang ‘yong nasimulan, sana magtuloy-tuloy po ‘yon,” said the official.
(We hope to gain a clearer understanding of the challenges encountered during Phase 1 that we can still address, as well as the best practices we can apply to ensure that the efforts and funds invested are not wasted. We also hope that our beneficiaries will remain diligent and actively involved, because it would be unfortunate for the initiatives already started not to be sustained.)
The workshop was attended by DA MIMAROPA Institutional Development Unit (IDU) Chief Marieta Alvis-Setias, High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) Focal Person Maricar Combalicer, representatives from the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division (PMED) , Organic Program, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) MIMAROPA, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) MIMAROPA. Also present were the Provincial Veterinary Office headed by Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Leony M. Coden, Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFC) Chairman Alfie Esguerra, and LGU representatives from Calintaan, Sablayan, San Jose, Sta. Cruz, Rizal, and Abra de Ilog.
The workshop reviewed the implementation of SAAD Phase 1 in Occidental Mindoro, as well as the agreements from previous consultation activities and key provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding among the DA, the provincial government, and municipal LGUs. IDU Chief Setias also discussed the processes and documentary requirements for DA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Accreditation and the Sagip Saka Program.
LGUs presented their respective Monitoring and Recovery Plans for each Phase 1 association. These plans outlined the associations’ operational status, interventions provided by SAAD and LGUs, challenges encountered, training and input requirements, and additional assistance that may be extended by other DA offices, attached agencies, and banner programs.
Participants likewise agreed on the finalization of the MOU to facilitate the official turnover of SAAD Phase 1 associations to their respective LGUs.
SAAD Regional Lead Vargas concluded the activity by commending the participants for their active engagement and cooperation, and expressed confidence that stronger LGU ownership and closer inter-agency collaboration will help recover and sustain income-generating livelihoods for SAAD Phase 1 associations.
