SORSOGON CITY — “Kasanggayahan” or a life of prosperity is no longer an impossible dream for farmers and fisherfolk in Sorsogon as the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) delivered goods worth P791,497 to nine microenterprise subproject proponent groups on October 26.

The Project handed over 350 sachets of vitamins, 150 sacks of cracked corn feeds, and 35 sacks of chick booster feeds to the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Cagang’s native chicken production and marketing in Barcelona. One hundred thirty rolls of polyethylene rope, 50 kilograms of monofilament, and 50 rolls of soft tie plastic straw were also given to the seaweeds production and marketing enterprises of Cogon Fisherfolks Organization in Castilla and the Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Gimaloto (SAMAGI) in Sorsogon City. The seaweeds production and marketing enterprises of the Samahang Mangingisda ng Tomalaytay (SMT) in Castilla, Carayat Seaweed Farmers Association in Prieto Diaz, and the RIC of Bagacay in Gubat also received their goods.

The PRDP also delivered three sewing machines, 10 bag molders, 200 needles for manual sewing, 10 scissors, 47 knives, 10 tape measures, tailor chalk, and hammer for the RIC of Olandia’s establishment of cottage industry in Barcelona.

The Samahan ng mga Magsasaka ng Organikong Paggugulayan (SMOP) in Sorsogon City received 300-meter polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hose, five PVC pipes, 200-yard fine fish net, and 10 rolls of vegetable twine for their food crop production and marketing. They also received five pieces of honing stone, five pieces of hoe, five shovels, five rakes, 60 bags of potting bag, 30 rolls of barbed wire, 12 kilograms of U-nail and 11 kilograms of tie wire.

Moreover, the RIC of San Francisco in Bulusan received 26 rakes, 26 shovels, 26 pieces hoe, one piece flat-weighing scale, 26 knives, 26 pairs of boots, and 26 pairs of gloves for their gabi and ginger production and marketing.

“Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sapagkat nabigyan kami ng mga gamit. Sa katunayan po kasi nung dumaan ang bagyong Nona talagang walang-wala kami. Nasira nung bagyo ’yong mga bahay at pananim namin. ’Yong mga tools na ibinigay sa amin ay gagamitin namin para mag-clearing sa aming site na pagtataniman (We are so thankful for these tools. Actually, we really had nothing left after Typhoon Nona. It devastated our houses and crops. We will use the tools that we have received to clear our planting area),” Gloria Españo, president of the RIC of San Francisco said.

Meanwhile, SAMAGI President Mariano Saldy Jesoro said that the goods they received will surely boost their seaweed production and eventually, increase the income of fisher-members.

Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit Head Dominador Jardin urged the proponent groups to establish their operations using the goods delivered and to take good care of them so that the microenterprise could help augment their needs.

Governor Robert Lee Rodrigueza acknowledged the support and deep concern of the Department of Agriculture in expressing love and support to the province’s agri-fishery sector.

“’Yan ang tunay na pagpadaba tabi. Intuturuan kamo na maghanap-buhay lain kay puro asa kita sa gobyerno hagad sa uruadlaw. Ini pag nag-angat, pag naglago ini dahil sa kahigusan niyo mas madaghan pa, mas madamó pa tabi an mairirog saiyo kaya magin mayad kamo na ehemplo (That is the real essence of caring. You are being taught to work rather than depend on dole outs from the government for your daily sustenance. If these subprojects progress because of your hard work, more people will imitate you, so be a good example),” he said.

In partnership with PRDP, the Province of Sorsogon has 10 approved microenterprise subprojects that would benefit farmers and fisherfolk in areas affected by typhoon Nona in December 2015. Recently, the PRDP Bicol Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) also approved the province’s P26.21 million-worth Sorsogon Pili Enterprise Cluster enterprise development (I-REAP) subproject and two infrastructure development (I-BUILD) subprojects. The RPAB approved P90.72 million-worth Cumadcad–Canjela FMR and the P79.72 million-worth Concreting of Dinapa–Pandan–Cogon FMR with 25 linear meter bridge.

The PRDP is a six-year development project being implemented by the Department of Agriculture aimed at increasing farmers and fisherfolk’s income by investing in a modern, inclusive, value chain-oriented, and climate resilient agri-fishery sector. ### (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP Bicol InfoACE Unit)

Sorsogon Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit Head Dominador Jardin encourages the proponent groups to establish their operations using the turned over equipment, tools and materials. (Photo by Eduardo D. Collantes, Jr., DA-PRDP Bicol InfoACE Unit)

The Samahan ng mga Magsasaka ng Organikong Paggugulayan (SMOP) receives its Certificate of Award during the Turn-over Ceremony of Equipment, Tools and Materials for Nine Microenterprises held in Sorsogon City on October 26, 2017. (Photo by Eduardo D. Collantes, Jr., DA-PRDP Bicol InfoACE Unit)

The Cogon Fisherfolks Organization receives its Certificate of Award during the Turn-over Ceremony of Equipment, Tools and Materials for Nine Microenterprises held in Sorsogon City on October 26, 2017. (Photo by Eduardo D. Collantes, Jr., DA-PRDP Bicol InfoACE Unit)

The Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Gimaloto (SAMAGI) receives its Certificate of Award during the Turn-over Ceremony of Equipment, Tools and Materials for Nine Microenterprises held in Sorsogon City on October 26, 2017. (Photo by Eduardo D. Collantes, Jr., DA-PRDP Bicol InfoACE Unit)

The Rural Improvement Club of San Francisco receives its Certificate of Award during the Turn-over Ceremony of Equipment, Tools and Materials for Nine Microenterprises held in Sorsogon City on October 26, 2017. (Photo by Eduardo D. Collantes, Jr., DA-PRDP Bicol InfoACE Unit)