KITAOTAO, Bukidnon (PIA)—The Indigenous People (IPs) of Kitaotao town received farm animals worth P346,000 from the Department of Agriculture in Region 10 (DA-10)-Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

Bae Merry Anne S. Lindongan, women’s leader of the Lorega Ancestral Management and Development for All Generation (LAMDAG) received 10 heads of carabao and 10 heads of goat for their communal farm, mostly planted with corn.

LAMDAG is composed of Matigsalug and Manobo tribes in barangay Lorega, Kitaotao, Bukidnon with 50 SAAD beneficiaries to benefit said livestock, which will serve as draft animals to sustain their food production endeavors, while the 10 goats are for production.

“Kini nga mga carabao ug kanding among nadawat gikan sa SAAD dako og ikatabang sa amoang mga miyembro. Amo kining ipalambo aron makadugang sa among panginabuhian ug aron pud madasig ang uban nga maningkamot pud aron molambo ang kinabuhi. Nalipay mi kay na-approve kini nga project labi nga naay COVID-19 karon,” said Bae Lindongan.

(The carabaos and goats we received from SAAD would be a big help to all members. We will raise these farm animals well in order to augment our livelihood and encourage other people in the neighborhood to do the same. We are so happy that the project was approved amid the COVID-19 pandemic)

DA-SAAD is a locally funded program of the agency that addresses poverty alleviation among the marginalized sectors in agri-fishery.

Facilitating the turnover were Kitaotao Municipal Agriculture Officer Romeo D. Limbaga, Dr. Janet D. Lopez of DA-RFO 10, and Bukidnon SAAD Area Coordinator Ralph Sabud. (DA10/PIA Bukidnon)