Pagadian City, May 11 (PIA) - The National Government in its effort
to provide livelihood opportunities to poor households has engaged with the
local government units for projects
which could be beneficial to the economy of the community as well as to provide
income to poor households.
Zamboanga
del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles and the officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD 9), recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signifying its formal
partnership for the Cassava Production Project which aims to benefit the
farmers of the province.
Some
600 hundred households/farmers in the province shall be tapped for the
Cash-for-Work program. Farmers shall be paid P2,000 monthly for the planting
and growing of cassava rootcrops. The project shall be pilot-tested
in 6 municipalities for a 10-month period. These municipalities are
Pitogo, San Miguel, Kumalarang, Mahayag, Aurora and Pagadian City. Each
area will have 100 farmers/beneficiaries and they shall also earn the produce.
Part
of the agreement and as part of DSWD’s role is the transfer of funds in the
amount of P3 million pesos to the provincial government which shall be
disbursed as cash-for-work funds for the farmers in accordance with
project guidelines. DSWD shall also identify, organize and mobilize
households who are covered by the Pantawid program as target beneficiaries as
well as monitor the implementation and provide technical assistance.
The
provincial government through its agriculture office shall identify target
areas and take the lead in the conduct of orientation and training of target
beneficiaries on cassava production. The provincial social welfare and
development office will also take part in the convergent effort by assisting in
the social preparation of identified beneficiaries through the conduct of
Family Development and Better Quality of Life Sessions (FDS and BQLs).
Trainings
of farmers will commence this June while planting season shall begin in July.
(DSWDNZB/CAL/PIA9)
