LEGAZPI CITY – The regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) here on Thursday said it has allocated more than P91 million in the pre-implementation of the Special Areas for Agricultural Development (SAAD). The fund is for livelihood projects of the three provinces in Bicol region included in the top 20 poorest provinces in the country, as pilot areas.
DA regional information officer Emily Bordado said the SAAD is a welcome opportunity for the region particularly the far-flung areas that did not receive any intervention from DA for the last two years.
Under the program, the allocated budget of P91 million for the Bicol region for 2018, will be used to finance livelihood projects on upland rice, corn, livestock poultry and vegetables.
The program is anchored on two major components -- Social Preparation and Food Production and Livelihood.
Bordado said the program is people-focused and it would address the needs of special clients – those agri-stakeholders not qualified for regular programs.
SAAD is one of the strategies of DA to alleviate poverty and achieve food security by looking into the weaknesses of the poorest areas and their potentials in food production and livelihood programs.
For 2018, the provinces of Masbate, Catanduanes and Sorsogon in the Bicol region were identified as pilot provinces.
In Masbate, the municipalities of Monreal, San Pascual, Balud, Mandaon, Uson and Cawayan were initially included; in Catandunes, the municipalities of Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Baras, San Miguel, Bato and Panganiban; while in Sorsogon, the municipalities of Magallanes, Donsol, Matnog, Juban, Barcelona and Prieto Diaz were also tentatively identified as pilot areas. (PNA)
