‘1,160 Cordilleran fisherfolk benefit from SAAD Phase 2; 157 fisherfolk cooperatives established…’ — SAAD Program Coordinator Peralta

Tabuk City, Kalinga – More than one thousand fisherfolk in the Cordillera region are receiving support from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources–Cordillera (BFAR-CAR) through the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

BFAR Program Coordinator Michelle Peralta shared this information with Guru Press Cordillera during the first-ever Regional SAAD Summit held from November 20–21 at MHotel in Barangay Appas, Tabuk City, Kalinga.

According to Peralta, a total of 1,160 fisherfolk across the region are currently benefiting from the SAAD Program. These beneficiaries come from the 51 fisherfolk groups in Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Benguet, and Mt. Province.

Peralta recounted that SAAD was first implemented in 2017 and officially ended in 2022, which was the original duration of Phase 1. During that time, only three Cordillera provinces—Apayao, Kalinga, and Mt. Province—were covered by the program.

Within the six-year span of Phase 1 implementation, the program successfully established 157 farmers’ and fisherfolk cooperatives and associations in the three provinces.

Members of these fisherfolk groups received livelihood support, skills training, and mentoring, among other assistance from the DA, BFAR, and partner agencies. Peralta said SAAD helped them grow their community-based enterprises, many of which are now operating independently.

Nevertheless, despite graduating from the program in 2022, Peralta said the agency continues to support them and conducts follow-up visits.

Because of the positive outcomes observed during Phase 1, the national government launched Phase 2 in 2023, which will run until 2028. Program coverage in the region has since been expanded to include the provinces of Abra, Ifugao, and Benguet.

Peralta noted that the current beneficiaries under Phase 2—1,160 fisherfolk across CAR—are also being guided step-by-step until they are able to manage their businesses independently.

“We hope that after their graduation or after Phase 2 ends, kaya na rin nilang tumayo sa kanilang sariling paa. The DA, the BFAR, and our partners are doing everything to help them until they graduate from the program. Step-by-step ang support—from start-up assistance, training, packaging, mentoring, at marami pang iba. Hangga’t hindi pa sila naggagraduate within the span of six years, SAAD will support them,” Peralta said.

The SAAD Program Coordinator also expressed hope that beneficiaries will value and maximize the support being provided to them, saying:

“I hope na sana po alagaan nila ‘yong natatanggap nilang assistance at mas palaguin pa nila ‘yong kanilang mga negosyo.”

During the second day of the Regional SAAD Summit on November 21, several beneficiaries received additional livelihood packages from BFAR-CAR, led by Regional Director Lois June Fermin, and learned new skills to boost their enterprises.