KABANKALAN CITY, Negros Occidental – Three community associations, namely: Dangalon Farmers and Farmworkers Association of Barangay Hilamonan, Karulano Dakong-Bato Eco-Agricultural Tourism Workers Association of Barangay Carol-an, and Buko Manulaya Farmers and Farmworkers Association of Barangay Tan-awan utilized funding from the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program for their proposed food house farming project.
The barangays are identified as Conflict-affected and Vulnerable Areas (CVAs) in Kabankalan and a part of the 2022 target for the provision of livelihood assistance under the program’s Executive Order 70 implementation. The communities are also far-flung areas with no access to electricity and a concrete road network.
The associations, all composed of farmers and farmworkers, were organized last April 2022 and were registered in the Department of Labor and Employment last June of the same year. After a series of consultations, all SLP associations have agreed and identified the Food House Farming initiative. They proposed to raise swine and chicken, grow vegetables, and venture into catfish farming as this will utilize available resources and address their food needs.
A total of ₱900,000.00 of Seed Capital Fund, with each association receiving ₱300,000.00 from the DSWD was released last September 5, 2022. To complement the existing fund, the Local Government Unit of Kabankalan provided ₱252,000.00 for the training and meals of the participants. The Barangay LGUs also provided a total of ₱60,00.00 for a Lakbay-Aral activity of association members to similar projects in Bago City, Don Salvador Benedicto, and Bacolod City.
At present, associations in Barangay Tan-awan and Barangay Hilamonan have already completed their first production harvest while the Karulano Dakong-Bato Eco-Agricultural Tourism Workers Association of Barangay Carol-an is currently on their second and third phase of the production cycle for their swine and broiler chicken production.
Food house farming projects of all associations are located in their respective barangays. During the collective inauguration of the enterprises last February 7, 2023, at Sitio Dangalon, Brgy. Hilamonan, Promotive Services Division Chief Luna Moscoso lauded the efforts of the community groups, LGU of Kabankalan, and partners for their effort in conceptualizing such a project aligned to address the basic needs of communities in support to the city’s vision of promoting food security.
Present at the event were Vice Mayor Miguel M. Zayco, Acting City Social Welfare and Development Officer Cyril D. Ramos, barangay officials, representatives of the office of the 6th District Representative Hon. Mercedes K. Alvarez, partners from Multi-Sectoral Alliance Development – Negros (MUAD Negros), and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) represented by Ms. Juniel S. Guath. SLP Regional Program Management Office headed by Regional Program Coordinator Mary Ann H. Masculino, Negros Occidental SLP Provincial Office headed by Provincial Coordinator Emily A. Bacaoco, and Project Development Officer Jelly “Greg” Bacaoco were also present to facilitate and witness the activity.
The Sustainable Livelihood Program provides livelihood assistance aligned with the Executive Order 70 or the Institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation Approach in Attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, Creating a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and Directing the Adoption of a National Peace Framework. Conflict-affected and Vulnerable Areas (CVAs) are provided with Seed Capital Funds for their proposed livelihood projects focused on the delivery of basic needs and services.###(ABB/JRLC/WOO/SLP RPMO)
