The pandemic is certainly not an excuse for DA RFO 12 to lounge around. During the trying times, the agency is doing its best to alleviate its stakeholders from economic hardships as more and more members of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in SOCCSKSARGEN received farm inputs from the DA RFO 12.

On September 18, through the convergence efforts of the different national agencies, DA’s Barangay Extension Service Operations (BESO) Outreach Program was held for the ninth time in the far-flung barangay of Klubi in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

DA SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Executive Director (RED) Arlan Mangelen spearheaded the distribution of agricultural inputs worth Php 1-million to the identified farmer-beneficiaries and farmers’ associations.

“Gusto naming ipakita at iparamdam sa inyo ngayon na may gobyerno na handang tumulong sa pangangailangan ninyo,” RED Mangelen said in his speech. He also emphasized that the BESO Program was created to bring the programs and projects of the government closer to the grassroots communities. “Kinakailangan ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno na maabot at matulungan ang kanyang nasasakupan. Gumagawa dapat tayo ng mga programa para mailapit sa kanila ang ating mga programa,” the director and the brainchild of the project said. “The DA RFO 12 is accessible, responsible, accountable and a working agency para makamit natin ang ating mithiing Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita,” he added.

During the activity, the DA RFO SOCCSKARGEN conducted a tree planting activity and RSBSA enrollment. On September 17, 2021, over 60 IPs also underwent various training on food processing and mushroom production. The products were displayed in Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita stalls in the venue. DA RFO SOCCSKARGEN also provided them with tool kits as they have begun their entrepreneurship venture in agriculture. The Koronadal City Eagles Club and Philippine Coconut Authority 12 also distributed food packs and coconut planting materials to the farmer attendees.###