Leyte town rolls out P20-M livelihood program
Daily TribuneRICE farmers came together for a crucial strategy meeting centered on boosting local rice production and improving farm management, as part of a wider livelihood drive led by mayor Norman Sabdao to confront food insecurity and poverty in the municipality. In a bold move to protect farmers from unstable market prices, the local government is also preparing to step in and help stabilize the local rice trading system.
Photographs courtesy of OMAG San Miguel
The municipal government of San Miguel, Leyte has rolled out various livelihood programs to help poor and marginalized communities, an initiative aimed at addressing hunger and food insecurity.
Mayor Norman Sabdao said the local government has allocated at least P20 million for four livelihood programs, with an initial funding of P5 million for each. These include cattle raising and fattening, rice trading, furniture making and a fishing enterprise.
“We will get a loan at 3 percent per annum for the livelihood program. Once we get the funding, we will immediately commence the program,” Sabdao told this reporter in an interview during a courtesy visit last month.
According to Sabdao, one of the programs to be launched this year is cattle raising and fattening, which can provide additional income for beneficiaries. The production method, he said, uses artificial insemination; thus, it does not necessarily require a large number of female cows.
“If there are males, we will keep raising them. We will use the male cows for the fattening program and bring them back to the market,” the mayor said.
THE Agricultural Training Institute and the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist conducted Batch 15 of the training on coconut production management at CARCO in San Miguel, Leyte. The initiative equipped local farmers with vital skills in farm maintenance, pest control and sustainable fertilization to enhance productivity and support community livelihoods.
Sabdao said this was among the economic programs he had learned about. “Hopefully, I will be able to establish it. Without meat, it is a waste,” he said.
If the cows are slaughtered, 50 percent will go to meat production and 50 percent to milk pasteurization.
“Next is milk pasteurization, mineral water, chocolate flavor, strawberry flavor and lychee flavor. We will bring them to malls and convenience stores. We already have an arrangement,” the mayor added.
For the cattle raising and fattening program, at least 200 individuals will initially benefit, according to Sabdao.
Apart from this, the municipal government will also extend assistance to local rice farmers.
“We will also help through rice trading. As you can see, commercial buyers have changed. Rice prices are different,” Sabdao said. “If the LGU takes over, the price and weight will remain the same because we have mechanical dryers. We will be able to sell rice at P29 per kilo. Even if it is cheaper, we will still be able to sustain it,” the local chief executive added.
The municipal government is also opening a livelihood program for upland barangays, providing jobs to at least 100 individuals through furniture making.
“We will open a lumber enterprise. We will be the number one supplier. The products will also be sold,” Sabdao said.