LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A farmer’s association in Mankayan received close to P1 million livelihood interventions from the government.
Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Agricultural Provincial Coordinating Officer-Benguet Lito Mocati Field Operations Division Chief Virginia Tapat and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (Opapru) Director Susana Guadalupe Marciada awarded P950,000 worth of livelihood intervention to Central Palasa-an Farmers Association, Inc. (CPFAI) in Suyoc, Mankayan.
CPFAI President Joven Pasadillio received the assistance consisting 520 crates, 30 knapsack sprayers, 20 water tanks, nine grass cutters, eight power sprayers, two power pumps, and a shredder which is in support to the high-value crop production of the farmer group mainly producing potatoes, cabbages, broccoli, wombok, and lemons.
The project is under the Sustainable and Inclusive Peace and Agreement (Sipat) Project, which aims to harmonize the efforts of various agencies and instrumentalities to ensure the reduction of poverty and vulnerability in conflict-affected areas through the provision of various interventions.
It is also part of the effort to promote peace and socio-economic development in conflict-affected areas.
Marciada expressed gratitude to the farmers.
She also expressed confidence on the farmer association to successfully implement the project and become model implementers.
Mocati, for his part, said the turnover of the intervention to the farmers would be the start of achieving their goals in farming. He also encouraged the farmers to implement the project to the best of their ability and be able to sustain it based on their policy.
Pasadillo expressed gratitude to the government for providing assistance to the farmers in the far flung areas to boost their production.
Also in attendance during the ceremony were Opapru consultants Thomas Killip, retired Army generals Bismarck Soliba and Ramon Yogyog, Joe Alan Valentine who represented the municipal government, and Palasaan-Suyoc Punong Barangay Marco Camiling. – Redjie Melvic Cawis
