14 Barangays in Kalinga to benefit from DA-SAAD projects

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Department of Agriculture - Special Area for Agricultural Development Program or DA-SAAD Kalinga recently completed a series of community consultations with 14 new barangays which translated them into becoming beneficiaries.

These 14 new barangays are an additional to the 17 which were earlier identified in the province. Around 1,254 farmers in the new barangay-recipients are expected to receive interventions from the said line agency.

The barangays include Mabaca and Balantoy of Balbalan, Ba-ay, Limos, and Wagud of Pinukpuk; Western Uma of Lubuagan; San Francisco and San Quintin of Rizal; Ambato and Mallango of Tinglayan; Guina-ang of Pasil; Lay-asan of Tanudan; and Dupag and Bagumbayan of Tabuk City.

According to the report of DA-SAAD Kalinga, the consultations enabled raising awareness on and positive response to the SAAD program of the government.

The action likewise paved way to the organization of partner-People’s Organization (PO) for the implementation of projects in selected areas, preparation of farmer-beneficiaries to understand the implementation procedures of the program, and instilling the sense of ownership to farmer-beneficiaries.

In a previous interview with Agricultural Production Coordinating Officer Balag-ey Claver, he said that areas to be identified are “poorest of the poor” barangays and chosen individuals should be willing to do the job in the implementation of the intervention. Income level will also be checked to see if they really belong to the marginalized sector.

1,163 identified individuals are expected by the agency to form 14 peoples organizations which will then serve as beneficiaries of several interventions by the special program of DA.

Kalinga is alloted with a total amount of Php 48,493,685.00 as budget for fiscal year 2021 which will go to projects consisting of high-value crops, livestock, and poultry production.