BAGUIO CITY – Ending the year with the spirit of sharing, the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) in coordination with the Highland Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative and the Manpat-a Farmers Agricultural Cooperative, instituted the Cordillera way of helping others in times of hardship and need, or “Binnadang” for some 300 households in a barangay in one of the municipalities in Benguet.
The team from the DA Regional Field Office, led by AMAD Chief Joan Bacbac, traveled through rough terrain, one-lane paved roads, and river crossings to reach out to poor communities and share. They arrived at Sitio Lubas, Barangay Ansagan in Tuba, Benguet, which was found to be the most depressed barangay in the municipality, bringing food packs of assorted vegetables, rice, and vegetable seeds for distribution.
In her message, the AMAD Chief expressed the department’s intention to share the bountiful harvest of the Benguet farmers with deserving families, particularly during this Yuletide season.
“The Department of Agriculture and our sponsors have decided to share with your barangay these assorted vegetables, rice, and seeds as our way of providing support to our fellow Cordillerans, especially during this time of giving. Hopefully, we may soon repeat this not only in your community but in other communities needing similar support in the future,” Bacbac said.
The Manpat-a Farmer’s Agricultural Cooperative provided 2.2 tons of assorted vegetables, while the Highland Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative shared 1.3 tons of similar agricultural products such as carrots, Chinese cabbage, radish, and potatoes. DA-CAR provided 25 sacks of rice coming from its buffer stock in Kalinga.
Barangay officials expressed their gratitude for the assistance provided to them by the Department of Agriculture and with partner farmer cooperatives for ensuring that all KADIWA food packs are to be distributed to all members of their community.
The distribution of KADIWA food packs was simultaneously done in other regions of the country on December 29, 2023, as part of the department’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the community. By JTLlanes
