Benguet farmers group gets P1.74 DA-PRDP fund assist for project

By Elvy T. Estacio

SABLAN, Benguet -- The Beckes-Bulala-Talete Ube Farmers Association (BBTUFA) here can now fully operate their enterprise project on Ubi production and marketing after it was formally turned over to them Feb. 10.
    Held at Barangay Bayabas, members and officers of the BBTUFA convened to celebrate completion and turnover of their enterprise subproject under the Dept. of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).
    Also turned over to them was the mini warehouse that was funded under the DA-CAR rice program.
Officials from municipal local government, DA and Good Shepherd, were present during the turnover ceremony.
    In his message, Sablan Mayor Alfredo B. Dacumos, Jr. acknowledged efforts of the BBTUFA to get support from the national government to help their fellow farmers.
     “Bantayan tayo, simpaen tayo dagitoy nga naawat yo from the national government ket pagtitinulungan mi met iti munisipyo ti Sablan nga mangkita ti daduma pay nga pagsayaatan para ti development ti agriculture ditoy Sablan, (Let us protect and take good care of these projects. At the same time, we will help our local farmers with other ways and means to development agriculture in Sablan Town),” the mayor said.
    DA-PRDP regional I-REAP component head Jocelyn W. Beray gave a brief overview of the BBTUFA’s enterprise subproject and urged the association to look check their business plan and operate it to fulfill objectives of their enterprise.
    As she accepted turnover certificates, BBTUFA president Myrcita C. Basilio expressed her gratitude to the DA-PRDP and BBTUFA who helped them complete their projects.
     “Naragsak kami la unay nga mang akseptar kadagitoy nga bendisyon nga inpaay yo. Na challenge kami ti PRDP ket inkarkarigatan mi tapnu macomply amin nga requirements ket salamat iti amin nga tinmultulong (We are happy to receive these interventions. We are challenged by the thrust of PRDP and to us and we will to our best to comply with all the requirements to manage the interventions. We also thank all who helped and supported us),” Basilio said.
    Together with members of the BBTUFA, Basilio committed to take good care of the projects so that these can be passed on to the next generations.
    For  operation of their enterprise, the BBTUFA received 20 units hole digger, 20 units knapsack sprayer, 20 rolls tie wire, 20 units dig bar, 7 units collapsible tent, 150 pcs crates, 4 units shredders, 20 pcs woven basket (kayabang), weighing scale, 20 units batulang/gamata, ubi setts worth P724,500.00 and a working capital amounting to P268,960.
    With the additional goods to support their ube enterprise, Basilio now looks forward to increased productivity and that more ube farmers will be served through the enterprise.