The Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), rolled out 78 heads of cattle worth P5.2 million to the second batch of out-of-school youths (OSY) on July 19 at the Cultural Center, Banna, Ilocos Norte.
The second batch consisted of twenty six (26) OSY recipients from the municipalities of Banna, Badoc, Bangui, Nueva Era and Solsona in the province of Ilocos Norte, with each receiving three heads of cattle.
Banna Mayor Mary Chrislyn Abadilla spearheaded the roll-out activity together with DA-RFO1 Regional Executive Director Dr. Annie Bares. Mayor Abadilla expressed her gratitude for giving the OSYs the opportunity to be one of the project’s recipients.
“Maswerte kayo kasi you are being chosen to have this program of DA. This is always a blessing kasi hindi naman ito basta basta na makukuha natin kaya pagyamanin natin kung ano man yung natatanggap natin.” Mayor Abadilla advised to the OSY recipients.
Meanwhile, RED Bares urged the OSYs to form an association in order to acquire various DA assistance more swiftly, as the DA now only provides assistance through established cooperatives or associations.
“Ito lang po dahil kayo ay pilot, ay individual ang inyong credit line. The Institutional Development Section of DA and AMAD will organize you in collaboration with MLGUs and the PLGU para mas mabilis ang makatanggap ng ibat ibang ayuda ng DA.” RED Bares said.
The awarding ceremony was also graced by ACPC Director Noel Ducusin, Board Member and Committee Chair of Agriculture Jonathan Toralba representing Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc, Mr. Edwin Cariño, representative of Congressman Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, Mr. Benjamin Campañano III, Chief of Staff of Congressman Angelo Marcos Barba, PCIC Regional Manager Raul Servito, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Loida Valenzuela, and ATI director Dr. Rogelio Evangelista.
The cattle raising credit and financing program is a pilot program under the ACPC that intends to give livelihood opportunities as well as a more formal scientific approach to cattle growing and fattening.
The first roll-out of the program was awarded to 22 out of school youth from Ilocos Norte last March 8,2023 graced by Senior UnderSecretary Domingo F. Panganiban.
