The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program through its National Program Management Office (NPMO) successfully conducted the Data Validation and Evaluation of Data Collection Process Activity in Davao region from June 1 to 3, 2026, as part of the preparations for the SAAD Program Phase 2 Mid-Term Assessment.
The three-day activity assessed the quality and accuracy of program data, validated information gathered from beneficiaries, and evaluated existing data collection processes to ensure reliable monitoring and reporting of program accomplishments.
Led by representatives from NPMO, the activity was carried out in close coordination with the DA-SAAD Davao team. Validation and data-gathering efforts were conducted in selected beneficiary areas to verify program implementation and document the progress of assisted farmer organizations.
As part of the field validation, the team visited two farmer associations in Davao del Norte: the Dakudao Upland Farmers Association, Inc. (DUFAI) and the Diversified Farmers Association of Sabangan (DIFAS). Through site visits, interviews, and discussions with farmer-beneficiaries, the team gathered firsthand information on the status of SAAD interventions and their contributions to the associations’ agricultural and organizational development.
According to Saturnino R. Palahang Jr., Executive Assistant of the Director/Statistician, the validation activities showed encouraging results regarding the impact of SAAD interventions on beneficiaries while highlighting opportunities to enhance data management practices.
“Sa validation natin, nakita naman natin na meron at maganda ang impact ng SAAD sa ating mga magsasaka at FAs dito. In terms of data collection, there is still room for improvement which is kaya natin mapunan”, he shared.
(Through our validation activities, we have observed that the SAAD Program has created positive and meaningful impacts on our farmers and farmer associations in the area. In terms of data validation, there is still room for improvement, but these are gaps that we can address and strengthen moving forward.)
The results of the activity will serve as valuable inputs to the SAAD Program Phase 2 Mid-Term Assessment and will help guide future program improvements to better serve marginalized farming communities.###
