SSB recipient of SAAD program

SULTAN SA BARONGIS (SSB), Maguindanao --- This town is lucky to be one of the recipients of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in support to farmers in food production, especially those in conflict-affected areas.

Mayor Ramdatu Angas said it is going to be a great help for their farmer- beneficiaries.

“We are grateful of this program of the national leadership because it focuses on the most marginalized agricultural and fishery sectors,” Mayor Angas said.

In a gathering last May 2 at the BBGM Function Hall in Buluan, Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu led the launching ceremony of the SAAD program together with DA Assistant Secretary for Planning and Special Projects LereyArevalo Panes.

“The program was attended by hundreds of farmers from various towns,” GovernorMangudadatu said.

In his message, Panes said that Maguindanao has vast fertile lands and enormous human resources that can be tapped to transform the province into a giant economy of the south.

Mangudadatu said that instead of P150 million earlier committed through the SAAD program, President Duterte has doubled it to P300 million.

Accordingly, Maguindanao is ranked fourth among the top-10 poorest provinces in the country.

It was learned thatthe DA has an initial fund of P25 million for the implementation of the first phase with 270 corn growers in the upland area of Maguindanao, particularly in the towns of Matanog, Buldon, Barira, South Upi, Upi, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Abdullah Sangki, and Ampatuan.

Aside from Sultan SaBarongis, other beneficiaries in the lower areas include Buluan, Pandag, Mangudadatu, Rajah Buayan, Datu Piang, General SK Pendatun, Paglat, Datu Muntawal, and DatuSalibo. They will be given support for rice production in the second phase.

The SAAD program is assessed and supervised by the provincial government in partnership with the DA-Region 12.(GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)