Mayor Edwin Santiago is presented with a cassava plant during the launch of “Tanim Mo, Pangkabuhayan Mo” program. Contributed photo
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — To maintain food security and livelihood opportunities in different communities here amidst the pandemic, Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago has ordered the intensification of the city government’s gardening and farming programs.
“Napakahirap po ng sitwasyon natin ngayon kaya napakahalaga na tayo mismo ay may napagkukuhanan ng masustansyang pagkain sa ating mga bakuran. Kaya naman hinihikayat po natin yung mga kababayan nating i-engage nila ang kanilang sarili sa pagtatanim dahil hindi lamang suplay ng pagkain ang makukuha natin dito. Maging pangkabuhayan ay makakakuha tayo sa pagtatanim,” Santiago said Monday at the launch of the “Tanim Mo, Pangkabuhayan Mo” program in Barangay Alasas.
With the city agriculture and veterinary office and city social welfare and development office as chief implementors, the program was initiated with the distribution of cassava plants to the beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in the barangay composed of members of the local Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, out-of-school youths, solo parents, and other common folk.
City agriculturist Cristina Sangumay said the program aims to assist and uplift the lives of SLP beneficiaries by helping them start their own cassava business.
“Nag-award tayo ng mga cassava na na-harvest natin dito sa mga bakanteng lote dahil gusto nating ipakita na ang cassava ay hindi masyadong nangangailangan ng marami at komplikadong cultural management. Basta’t naitanim natin ‘yan at nabigyan ng kaukulang pansin ay lalago at magsu-survive ito at napakagandang panimula po nito para sa kabuhayan ng ating mga benepisyaryo,” explained Sangumay.
Patricia Palosa, a 19-year-old beneficiary of the program, expressed gratitude to the local government for providing them livelihood programs.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa local government at kay Mayor EdSa dahil may ganitong programa po sila upang makatulong sa amin lalo na ngayong pandemiya. Sa murang edad ko po ay natutunan ko na po kung paano po ang pagtatanim at paggawa ng cassava,” Palosa said.
CSWD officer Aileen Villanueva reminded the beneficiaries to “keep up their good work and rest assured that the local government will remain steadfast in supporting and providing assistance to them.”
“Kailangan po nating magsipag sa panahon ng pandemya. Ang local government po ay nakatutok po para makabuo tayo ng mga resilient and sustainable livelihood groups,” Villanueva said.
