The Department of Agriculture has spent PHP87.1 million for the 65 livelihood projects under the second phase of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program in Eastern Visayas this year.

In an update released by the DA regional office here Monday, the agency said as of November 2023, the program achieved 100 percent in terms of its physical targets, with an obligation of 89 percent and disbursement of 63 percent.

The program focuses on 60 towns of the region belonging to the 5th and 6th income classes, guided by four core components – social preparation, food production and livelihood, marketing assistance and enterprise development, and program management.

“The program is implemented to continue the department’s efforts to contribute to the poverty reduction of farmers and fisherfolk in the country by providing assistance in the form of livelihood packages,” DA Eastern Visayas Regional Executive Director Andrew Orais said in a statement.

The project prioritizes the marginalized rural farming and fishing communities in the country, targeting two essential services that advance not only the welfare of the disadvantaged segment of the population but also the local agricultural development of the rural communities.

Mandated to protect and promote food security, the SAAD acts as part of DA’s actions in addressing immediate challenges such as persistent poverty in rural areas and food insufficiency by strengthening local food production through the provision of agriculture and fishery livelihood projects.

From 2017 to 2022, the DA has poured PHP1.37 billion outlay to help less privileged farmers in Eastern Visayas under the SAAD 1st phase. (PNA)