Bontoc farmers get P1.1 million OPAPRU funds

By Flora Mae Apos, Christy Mae F. Che-es and Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay

BONTOC, Mountain Province – An organization here in Barangay Tocucan was recipient of ₱1.1 million worth of agricultural assistance from the national government.
    The Chinakhop Farmers and Irrigators Organization recently received the assistance from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) through the Dept. of Agriculture Cordillera Administrative Region on May 5 at Amogkhao, Tocucan.
    The assistance is under the OPAPP and DA’s Project, Sustainable and Inclusive Peace and Transformation Program (SIPAT) which aims to invest in human capital through livelihood opportunities and community-based projects in conflict-affected or vulnerable communities.
    The said organization headed by Fairlaine Amongan, received agriculture-based products such as chicken, layer feeds, grower feeds, breeder feeds, lactating feeds, and nets.
    Present during the turnover were Dept. of Agriculture regional executive director Cameron Odsey, Dionisio Wacdisen who represented Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog, Jr., Junw Pinayakan who represented Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) representative Thomas Killip, Mountain Province Agriculture Program coordinating officer (APCO) Beverly Pekas, Tocucan punong barangay Wilbert Padngaran and administrative officer IV Ross Kiat-ong of the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist who is also the Sustainable and Inclusive Peace and Transformation (SIPAT) point person of the Bontoc local government.    
    Municipal Administrator Arthur Leonard Odsey represented Bontoc Mayor Jerome ‘Chagsen’ Tudlong Jr.
In his message, he reminded the farmers to take the opportunity to learn more about the basic needs in caring for chickens as this does not only provide basic needs but also an opportunity to further flourish and turn it into a livelihood.