DA - SAAD Bicol

Nagtipon ang ilang mga miyembro ng mga farmers association (FA) ng Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2 ng Masbate sa isinagawang provincial assessment and coordination meeting na isinagawa sa Masbate City nitong ika-26 ng Pebrero 2026.

Pinanungahan ng Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) at Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO) Masbate, ang aktibidad na naglayong suriin ang progreso ng implementasyon ng programa sa probinsya.

Iniulat ng mga Community Development Officers (CDO) ang estado ng mga asosasyon, kabilang na ang progreso ng proyekto at iba pang mga aktibidad ng mga magsasaka para sa FY 2025. Tinalakay sa mga ulat ang antas ng kanilang mga ani at
mga inisyatibong isinagawa upang mapalakas ang kani-kanilang produksyon.

Ayon sa mga kinatawan ng asosasyon, naging mahalaga ang tuluy-tuloy na paggabay ng programa sa pagpapatatag ng kanilang samahan at pagpapaunlad ng kanilang kabuhayan. Ibinahagi nila ang mga hamong kinaharap sa nakalipas na taon, kabilang ang epekto ng pabagu-bagong panahon, pagtaas ng presyo ng mga input sa pagsasaka, at limitadong pamilihan. Sa kabila nito, ipinakita ng ilang asosasyon ang pagtaas ng produksyon at mas maayos na koordinasyon sa loob ng kanilang grupo bunsod ng regular na pagpupulong at mas sistematikong pagpaplano.

Matapos ang bawat presentasyon, isang panel na kinabibilangan nina SAAD Bicol Regional Lead, Maribeth Mangalino, Masbate Research Outreach Station (ROS) Superintendent Lani Columna, at Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) – Masbate staff, Emmanuel Aguilar; ang nagbigay ng mga komento at mungkahi upang higit pang mapahusay ang mga estratehiya at tugunan ang mga isyung kinaharap ng mga asosasyon. Sa pangkalahatan, ang pulong ay nagsilbing mahalagang oportunidad upang mapalalim ang koordinasyon, masuri ang progreso ng bawat FA, at maayos na maitakda ang mga susunod na hakbang para mas lalong mapabuti ang implementasyon ng programa sa darating na taon. # # #

𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 | SAAD Bicol kicks off social preparation activities in Sorsogon Province

Following a series of evaluations and consultations with farmer-beneficiaries, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Bicol kicked off its Social Preparation Assessment (SPA) with three farmers associations (FAs) in the towns of Barcelona, Prieto Diaz, and Castilla, Sorsogon last February 3-6.

Full story: https://saad.da.gov.ph/saad-bicol-kicks-off-social-preparation-activities-in-sorsogon-province/







Department of Agriculture - Philippines

𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 | Magkaipit FA’s story of recovery, rebuilding after typhoon losses

A series of typhoons struck the Bicol Region last September 2025, causing widespread damage to livelihoods, infrastructure, and agricultural production. Farming communities across the region suffered major income losses, particularly smallholder farmers under the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2.

Full story: https://saad.da.gov.ph/magkaipit-fas-story-of-recovery-rebuilding-after-typhoon-losses/






Department of Agriculture - Philippines

𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 | FRS to aid SAAD Catanduanes FAs with new poultry housing facilities, livelihood support

Additional production facilities and other livelihood support are set to benefit Phase 2 farmer-beneficiaries in Catanduanes through a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Bicol and Fundacion de Religiosos para la Salud (FRS).

Full story: https://saad.da.gov.ph/frs-to-aid-saad-catanduanes-fas-with-new-poultry-housing-facilities-livelihood-support/






Department of Agriculture - Philippines

𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 | Connecting farmers to markets through SAAD's MAED

In 2025, the Philippines reported a significant drop in its agricultural trade deficit, which narrowed down to USD 932.15 million from USD 1.1 billion in 2024. This shift reflects gradual changes in the country’s farm import-export landscape, driven by sustained efforts to boost local production and trade. Alongside national initiatives, grassroots programs such as the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) are helping bring this transformation closer to farming communities.

Full story: https://saad.da.gov.ph/connecting-farmers-to-markets.../






Department of Agriculture - Philippines

𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 | SAAD Catanduanes Phase 1 FA receives P100K cash assistance from DSWD-SLP

Vegetable growers in Catanduanes under the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program received Php 100,000.00 in cash assistance to support their vegetable production in the town of San Miguel.

Full story: https://saad.da.gov.ph/saad-catanduanes-phase-1-fa-receives-p100k-cash-assistance-from-dswd-slp/






Department of Agriculture - Philippines

𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 | To officially begin the year and lay the groundwork implementation of activities for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2 in Bicol conducted a Reorientation on Beneficiary Profiling and Presentation of Food Production and Livelihood (FPL) Guidelines through a virtual meeting last January 20, 2026.

Full story: https://saad.da.gov.ph/da-saad-bicol-kicks-off-2026-with-reorientation-on-profiling-introduction-of-fpl-guidelines/






Department of Agriculture - Philippines

Ang pagbabago ay nagsisimula sa komunidad; sa sama-samang pagkilos ng bawat kasapi, sa bukas na pakikipag-ugnayan, at sa iisang layuning mapaunlad ang kabuhayan at kapakanan ng lahat.

Maraming salamat sa pagsama sa amin sa isang makabuluhan taon na hinubog ng pagtutulungan, pagkatuto, at pagkaka-isa.

Ngayong 2026, kaagapay ninyo pa rin kami tungo sa mas maunlad na buhay.

𝐈𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
A Year-End Message from SAAD National Director Ulysses J. Lustria Jr.

There is a well-known African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” At SAAD, this wisdom has taken on a broader meaning: it takes a village – and indeed, a nation – to uplift communities and restore dignity to those who feed our country.

As we close the year, I look back on the journey of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program with gratitude and resolve. This year reminded us that development does not begin with distribution or directives; it begins with listening.

Across farms, fishing grounds, and far-flung barangays, we listened to stories of hardship, perseverance, and hope. These voices shaped our decisions and grounded our priorities, reminding us that listening is not passive – it is an act of respect and the first step toward meaningful service.

As the months progressed, we witnessed communities move beyond survival toward strength. Farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and associations grew more organized. Livelihood projects matured into enterprises. Savings were built, markets were reached, and leadership emerged from within communities themselves.

These were not instant successes, but the result of patience, discipline, and unity. They affirmed the heart of SAAD Phase 2: not just providing assistance, but preparing people to stand on their own.

Toward the year’s end, we challenged ourselves to look deeper. We measured not only what was delivered, but what truly changed. We asked harder questions about sustainability, accountability, and long-term impact – because being the Department of Agriculture’s “equalizer” carries responsibility. Our duty is not simply to implement projects, but to ensure that no marginalized farmer or fisherfolk is left behind, and that progress continues even when the Program steps back.

None of this work happens in isolation. No farmer succeeds alone, no fisherfolk thrives without cooperation, and no development effort endures without shared responsibility.

It takes SAAD officers who walk difficult terrain and stay long after ceremonies end; national and regional teams who plan, monitor, and improve systems; partner agencies and local governments who share ownership of outcomes; and farmers and fisherfolk who choose cooperation over division and perseverance over doubt. This is the village that sustains SAAD.

To our SAAD officers, I extend my deepest thanks for your dedication and service. To our farmers and fisherfolk, thank you for your trust and resilience. As we move forward, let us carry with us the lessons of 2025 – that real development is built slowly, sustained collectively, and measured in lives changed, not just projects completed.

Sa huli, ang tagumpay ng SAAD ay hindi pagmamay-ari ng iilan. Ito ay bunga ng sama-samang pagkilos ng mga pamayanan na nagtutulungan at ng isang bansang naniniwalang walang maiiwan.

SAAD, kaagapay sa maunlad na buhay!

Ang tunay na diwa ng Pasko ay ang pagbabahagi ng biyaya sa ating kapwa. Ngayong kapaskuhan, pasalamatan natin ang mga magsasakang nagpunyagi upang makapaghatid ng pagkain sa ating mga hapag.

Kasama ninyo ang SAAD Bicol sa bawat hakbang patungo sa pag-unlad.

Mula sa amin, para sainyo; Maligayang Pasko!

Si Catherine ay at ang buong Sibol Farmers Association mula Bato, Catanduanes ay isa sa mga benepisyaryong nakatanggap ng makinaryang pangsakahan mula sa Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program.

Dating hirap sa pag-aararo, mas napapadali na ngayon ang kanilang gawain sa sakahan, patunay na sa tulong ng wastong suporta, sipag at tiyaga na lamang ang kailangan upang unti-unting makamit ang pag-unlad.