NATONIN, Mountain Province – The Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) through the Cordillera office of the Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) as the conduit agency, turned over various assistance to the Pora-Pap-arong-Angharafuy Farmers Association, Inc. of Tonglayan, Natonin on October 12, 2022.
According to the DA, the project intervention which consisted of free-range chicken, feeds, microtiller, grass cutter, high-density polyethylene pipes, knapsack sprayer and training amounting to PHP 1,425,000 is in support to the poultry and heirloom rice production in the area.
The turnover ceremony was led by DA-RFO-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey, Provincial Administrator Franklin C. Odsey, representing Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., and Political Affairs Officer Erlindo Agwilang of the Office of Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr..
The event was witnessed by Provincial Veterinarian Rodelio B. Bagawi, OPAPRU Consultant Thomas A. Killip, Project Development Officer Charlotte B. Matias of the OPAPRU, Tonglayan barangay officials, other DA-RFO-CAR and provincial government personnel and other members of the community.
In his message, Director Odsey said that the assistance is funded under the OPAPRU’s Sustainable and Inclusive Peace and Transformation (SIPAT) Program which fund was downloaded to the DA for livelihood projects in communities where members of the Cordillera People Liberation Army are.
Odsey recounted that the project is in memory of the 1986 Sipat or the renowned Mount Data Peace Accord which main aim was to promote peace in the Cordillera. With this, he expressed optimism that all government interventions, especially to the countryside, would be reminders for Cordillerans to preserve peace and for concerned agencies of the government and the community to work together to continue the historic event’s aspirations, one of which is bringing the needed intervention to the people.
“Papintasen tayo daytoy nga project. Sapay kuma ta daytoy ti mangtulong kadakayo ta ad-ado ti mailako yo ken sapay kuma ta babaen iti daytoy nga project ket maitultuloy daytuy Heirloom Rice production ditoy ili yo,” he said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Odsey extended the full support of the Governor to the programs of the DA and OPAPRU. According to him, the assistance including the various projects and programs that the DA has implemented in Mountain Province were timely since support to the agriculture sector is very crucial in the province.
“Nagasat kayu nga napili ta amin nga projects nga ma implement ket adda ti standards nu apay nga napili ti maysa nga recipient so take care of the equipment tapnu kasta ket agserbi nga mabaybayag para iti pagsayaatan yu. Kayat ko manen nga idanun nga ti Provincial Government is always supportive in the implementation of all agricultural projects nga makatulung iti ili tayo,” Odsey remarked.
Moreover, Agwilang congratulated the recipients and expressed Rep. Dalog’s hopes for the continuous partnership among the local governments, the national line Agencies and the communities to bring the needed development.
“Let us continue our cooperation and support the programs of the government a kas daytoy SIPAT tapnu kasta ket nagad- adu pay kuma ti sumangpet nga kastoy nga projects iti smaller communities ditoy ayan tayo,” Agwilang said.
Furthermore, the message of OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez was delivered by Matias. According to her, the secretary is pleased because despite the challenges, the intervention was implemented and delivered to the rightful recipients.
Further still, Bagawi urged the recipients to take good care of the equipment and free-range chicken that were handed to them.
“Ibilang yu nga kwarta yu ti nausar tapnu kasta ket aywanan yu. Kasta met kadagita da taraken ta napintas dagita da nga mapa-itlog,” he said.
Also, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Chairperson for Agriculture Ezra Samson A. Gomez extended his gratitude to the OPAPRU and DA for their timely intervention to the farmer organization. His message was read by Gwycel A. Bacwaden, a staff of the DA project office.
In response, Natonin Councilor Fernandez Linggyo and Tonglayan Barangay Captain Alloy N. Banasan expressed their gratitude to the OPAPRU, DA-RFO-CAR and other support agencies for the realization of the project with Tonglayan farmers as recipients. Fernandez also emphasized that the Pora-Pap-arong-Angharafuy Farmers Association Inc. of Tonglayan was the second organization from Natonin to be a recipient of the OPAPRU-DA program.
Meanwhile, Municipal Agriculturist Lilia Lamfayong shared the message of the Pudo Farmers Organization, a recipient of the Special Area for Agricultural Development, a locally-funded program of the DA.
According to her, the implementation of the program in their area enabled the organization members to grow tiger grass as livelihood. She said that they are thankful for the DA’s distribution of tiger grass seedlings and also grass cutters in order to help the beneficiaries in maintaining their production areas and to lessen labor cost.
Lamfayong shared that the production areas have now expanded and that the production of tiger grass products like soft brooms in the barangay has tripled.