DA releases P75-M to help priority provinces get out of poverty

KORONADAL CITY - The attainment of the current
administration’s goal of reducing poverty in the country is now rolling.

Three checks worth P25 million each were
released by the Department of Agriculture 12 to provincial local government units
(PLGUs) which are identified recipients of the government’s Special Area for
Agricultural Development (SAAD) program.

Under SAAD, the Agri department will focus on
top 10 prioritized poorest provinces, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's
thrust to increase food production and to trim down poverty prevalence through
the enormous provision of livelihood projects.

Engineer Milagros Casis, DA 12 regional
executive director said, North Cotabato, Sarangani, and Maguindanao were among
the three provinces included in SAAD program, and just this month, we were able
to hand-over checks to their local chief executives with an initial fund of
P25-M each.

The lady director explained that although
Maguindanao is under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), its fund
was downloaded to DA 12.

The P25-M each received by said local
government units (LGUs) was the first tranche of the commitment of the DA per
target province.

Aside from the earlier mentioned provinces,
the other areas are Apayao, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Northern Samar,
Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, and Lanao del Sur.

Meanwhile, Director Casis noted, Farmer and
fisher groups and local governments not included in this special program are
encouraged to still propose for more agri-fishery interventions under our
agency’s regular programs.

In August, this year, Secretary Emmanuel
Piñol led the launching of SAAD program in Kidapawan City and called on the
proactive participation of the LGUs and all agri-fishery stakeholders in this
poverty alleviation initiative. (CULAguillon)