Farmer organizations received the last batch of Small Livelihood Projects (SLP) under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in an awarding ceremony held last August 22, 2017 at the Municipal Hall of San Fabian, Pangasinan.

Under the SLP-Farm Mechanization Service Facility, the farmer organizations received brand new four-wheel tractors, rotavator, cage roller, and trailer. The SLP-tractor is expected to increase the income of direct beneficiaries by 8 percent or by Php2,250 per hectare.

The San Fabian farmer organizations which received the said farm implements include: Angio Taculit Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Binday Palapad Tomeeng Irrigators, Lateral AF Irrigators Association, Inc., and Samahang Magsasakang Longos Proper Farmers Association, Inc.

This is the second batch of SLP-tractors awarded to San Fabian Fabian farmer organizations. Last May 2017, four tractors were also awarded to San Fabian farmer organizations. The Provincial Government of Pangasinan procured the first batch of SLP-tractors, while the Municipal Government of San Fabian procured the second one.

The SLP is a rehabilitative type of subproject funded by the PRDP to help farmers who were adversely affected by Typhoon Lando in October 2015. The typhoon hit Luzon when crops were about to be harvested, causing huge financial losses to the farmers.

The PRDP allowed the submission of SLP proposals until December of 2016. The Ilocos Region successfully acquired approval for 53 SLP proposals.

All SLPs are expected to be awarded by the end of 2017 to avoid cancellation of subprojects. ### Dessa U. Estrada and Vida V. Cacal, RPCO 1 InfoACE Unit