San Jose Farmers Association chair Reynaldo Caballero and Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao at the launch of the egg-laying project.*Bago PIO photo
An egg production project to benefit the San Jose Farmers Association and its community was launched in Bago City on Tuesday, August 5..
Bago Mayor Marina Mayette Javellana-Yao led the launching of the egg-laying project in Purok San Jose, Barangay Calumangan, alongside members of the association headed by Reynaldo Caballero.
Javellana-Yao said the project is a “concrete step towards food sustainability and livelihood opportunities” for the people of Bago.
“This program is a clear message of believing in the capacity of the people, in the strength of the community, and the goodness brought by dedication and hard work,” she added.
The San Jose Farmers Association, which has 28 members, is the recipient of a P500,000 seed capital fund from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Negros Island Region through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), a press release from Bago City said.
The association was recently organized with the help of the Presidential Commission for Urban Poor (PCUP). It was then endorsed to the DSWD through the Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP).
“Every egg that will be laid, every source of income this project creates, is not just about food on the table, but about lives built on hope,” Javellana-Yao said.
Caballero said the association is initially raising 90 chickens for egg production, which are currently producing 90 eggs daily. They are expected to receive more chickens for another eight cages to be placed in their 200-square-meter production area.
The association chairman said they are producing eggs mainly for community consumption, selling them at a farmgate price to help residents avoid buying more expensive eggs from stores.
“This is really a big help for us, members of the association, in terms of livelihood,” Caballero said, adding that “one of our programs in the association is community service, we really wanted to help the community.”
Caballero thanked the government for the livelihood project and assured that they will take good care of it to benefit the entire community.
P17M FOR 33 GROUPS
DSWD-NIR Project Development Officer II Geljane Premacio, who was also at the launching, said the San Jose Farmers Association is one of 33 recipient-associations in Bago City for this year’s SLP, which has a total funding of more than P17 million.
“We hope for a successful implementation of these other projects,” she added.
City Social Welfare and Development Officer Leah Pilipina Canayon also assured the community of continued support and collaboration to achieve the Asenso Baho governance framework of the mayor.
“In unity, we will surely achieve what we dream for the people of Bago,” Canayon said.
Also present at the launching were Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office and City Cooperative Development Office Head Judee Lynn Lirazan, Social Welfare Officer II and Livelihood Focal Person Rhoda Alvarado, PCUP Area Coordinator Edmark Sabordo, and Barangay Calumangan Captain Roberto Saylo, among others.*