Agriculture Secretary William Dar assured farmers and fishers from the Eastern Visayas region that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will continue to carry out the implementation of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program to reduce the number of poor Filipinos and lift them out of poverty.

“As SAAD means promise in Cebuano, I promise you that we will continue to strengthen SAAD as a major program of the Department,” Dar underscored in his message during the SAAD-SAGA program held in Palo, Leyte on October 25, 2019.

Acknowledging the positive impact of the program in the region, Secretary Dar committed to retain SAAD as well as the other initiatives of the DA that have effectively changed the lives of the local farmers and fishers.

“From 50 percent poverty incidence in your region, Philippine Statistical Authority records for 2018 show that it has been diminished to 39 percent,” Dar announced.

The Secretary added that the Department will focus on improving the socio-economic status of the 20 poorest provinces in the country and increase the SAAD budget to efficiently implement additional livelihood projects.

According to Secretary Dar, DA targets to double the annual income of rural families pegged at Php100,000 at current value in the next five years, in line with the national agenda of the government to reduce poverty incident in the country side.

“We want to reach more beneficiaries through SAAD, which is designed to cater to poor households and groups,” Dar said.

During the event, the agriculture chief and officials of the DA-Regional Field Office VIII, also awarded an initial 350 cash cards under the SureAid program to extend assistance to the rice farmers of Eastern Visayas.

The financial aid forms part of the Php70.8-million pesos worth of interventions distributed to the region to enable improved productivity and increased farm income. ### (Adora Rodriguez, DA-AFID)