TO MAINTAIN food security and livelihood opportunities in different communities amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the local government of San Fernando headed by Mayor Edwin Santiago continues its gardening and farming programs.
On April 12, the local government, through its City Agriculture and Veterinary Office (Cavo) and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), launched “Tanim Mo, Pangkabuhayan Mo” program and turned over cassava plants to the beneficiaries of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in Barangay Alasas.
Beneficiaries were members of the Local Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), out-of-school youth, solo parents, and other common folk.
According to City Agriculturist Cristina Sangumay, 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 hinarvest 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,” said Sangumay.
Meanwhile, 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.
For his part, Santiago reiterated the importance of sustainable agriculture and food security especially during the pandemic.
“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,” he said.