Samar provinces get initial PHP75-M outlay for farm development

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 17 (PNA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) turned over PHP75-million initial funds to three Samar governors for the implementation of Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD).

The three Samar governors received the first tranche of the PHP50-million fund, each receiving PHP25 million from the central government.

The DA allocates a PHP50-million outlay for each province while PHP150 million is allocated to the regional office for the implementation of the farm development project.

Of the PHP50-million budget per province, PHP31.5 million will be for enhancing of rice production, PHP3.3 million for corn production, PHP7.5 million to enhance vegetable production and PHP7.6 million for sustainable livestock production.

Under the PHP150-million budget for the region, PHP94.6 million is intended to raise rice production, PHP9.9 million for corn cultivation, PHP32.5 million for vegetable production, and PHP23.1 million for livestock raising.

DA Assistant Secretary Lerey Panes led the turnover of checks to Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan-de los Santos, Northern Samar Governor Jose Ong, and Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart.

Panes said that Secretary Emmanuel Pinol’s mandate to all DA offices is to implement the SAAD project free from corruption to achieve their goal of improving living condition of families in poorest provinces of the country.

“That is why he entrusted us this budget to help farmers to create a good environment and that good environment will affect others, making them productive. We will evaluate this after three years to know if the program is effective or not,” Panes said.

Panes added that SAAD has two funding components. The first will be carried out by the provincial government through fund downloaded to the provincial government. The second component will be managed by the DA regional office.

Samar Governor Tan in her acceptance message said that for the project to succeed, it needs social preparation of beneficiaries, which they will do with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“The biggest responsibility in this program is on the implementation, but the success will depend on the attitude of the people. Based on our experience, when beneficiaries have the sense of ownership, the program to succeed,” Gov Tan said.

Governor Ong, for his part, said that in support to the SAAD project, they will also implement an agricultural project to complement the initiative, hence raising the income of poor farmers and fishermen.

“Our role in this program is to monitor and see that the funds are utilized properly by the beneficiaries who will decide if this program will succeed or not,” Ong said.

Governor Nicart expresses his full support to the program and vowed to appropriately utilize SAAD funds.

Aside from  rice and corn, Eastern Samar province will also focus on vegetables, livestocks and poultry products.

SAAD is a special program of the DA focusing on 10 top poorest provinces in the country, which include the three Samar provinces.

The program focuses on social preparation and provision of agriculture and fishery-related livelihood interventions to address poverty in the 10 provinces.

DA aims to reduce poverty in Samar provinces by 25 percent in the next three years. (PNA)

LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA