BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office-CAR (DA-RFO-CAR) through its Agriculture Programs Coordinating Office (APCO), spearheaded a one-day stakeholders meeting to discuss Phase 2 of its Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program in Mountain Province (MP).
The meeting took place at the Multi-Purpose Hall on August 1, 2024. Officials from the Mountain Province APCO, provincial government, Office of the Congressman, municipal governments, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-MP, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Cooperative Development Authority, and other government agencies and various farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) attended the meeting.
APC Officer Pedro C. Pinos-an explained in his opening remarks that the implementation of the SAAD-Phase II in MP will run until 2028 and covers two FCAs each in the municipalities of Barlig, Besao, Sabangan, Sadanga, Sagada, and Paracelis.
According to SAAD Procurement Officer Aaron James Barillio, these are the SAAD projects that are being/will be implemented in each municipality: swine production in Barlig; coffee and vegetable production in Besao; squash production and processing and coffee and chayote tops production in Sabangan; swine and fruit tree production in Sadanga; chayote, bell pepper, cucumber and cabbage production in Sagada; and oyster mushroom and communal table egg production in Paracelis.
In addition to SAAD, Provincial Veterinarian Rodelio B. Bagawi relayed the good news that the SAAD program was approved to continue for another phase after the SAAD Phase Two will end in 2028. Furthermore, Bagawi and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Provincial Government Assistant Department Head Mary Jane S. Tumapang were one in expressing their gratitude to the DA for bringing its SAAD Program to the province which greatly benefitted the MP farmers.
Meanwhile, Board Member Ezra Samson A. Gomez and MP Congress representative Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr., thru their respective representatives, graced the meeting with their messages, expressing their commitment in providing support and assistance to the local farmers and fisherfolk of the province.
“The committee is always here to provide support in whatever programs, projects, and activities concerning our local farmers and fisherfolk,” Chantal S. Santowen said on behalf of Gomez.
“And so today, let us all renew our commitment to continue partnering together in order to help improve the livelihood of our constituents here in Mountain Province in pursuit for localized agricultural development for our most marginalized sectors of society,” Wabilyn Lomong-oy also said on behalf of Dalog.
Other highlights of the meeting include the discussions concerning the guidelines and needed documentary requirements for the application of the certificate of registration and good standing from the DOLE, on the transformation/conversation of association into cooperative, BIR registration, and application for PCIC insurance among others; the sharing of best practices from Betty Tindowen, a member of the Ankileng Rumang-ayan Organization; and the open forum. By Hail, MP
