900 farmers converge at “LETS HELP Bohol Day”

Tagbilaran City – THEY practically came in droves, about 900 farmers from different People's Organization representing 19 towns converged at the Bohol Cultural Center for the LETS HELP BOHOL Day, July 28. The activity, an offshoot of the Livelihood Enhancement Towards Sustainable Human and Environmental Paradigm for Bohol (LETS HELP Bohol ) is a provincewide animal dispersal program funded by US based Heifer project International.

In his speech, Gov. Erico Aurnentado thanked prime movers of the gathering particularly Dr. Stella Marie D. Lapiz, head of the Provincial Veterinarian, who supervised the animal dispersal program. He said the undertaking forms part of the poverty reduction program of the provincial government. This year's celebration bannered the theme "Hagit sa Pagkamalungtaron, Taliwa sa Kawad - on".

This program started in 1999 in the towns of Antequera, Balilihan, Sikatuna, Catigbian, San Isidro , Batuan, and Sevilla. In 2001, it was expanded to another 12 towns of; Inabanga, Buenavista, Getafe , Talibon, Bien Unido, Trinidad , Ubay, President Garcia, Sagbayan.. Danao, Dagohoy, San Miguel and Sierra-Bullones. The concept is for a bonafide people's organization member to pass on a dispersed animal to another beneficiary after it has borne an offspring. That day, the governor handed over certificates of livestock ownership for carabaos and goats to POs in Antequera, San Isidro , Balilihan, Catigbian, Sikatuna and Sevilla.

Likewise, farmers organizations also received monetary assistance in another program called "Agricultural Facilities Credit Assistance". Farmer organizations availed of P10T soft loans payable in two years with zero interest. This again forms another novel help for people's organizations in their efforts to unite to wrest poverty off the country sides.

The organizations who availed of the help were Tabuan Women's Farmers Association, Causwagan Sur Farmers Association, Kapunungan sa mga Inahan nga Nagpakabana, Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Overland , Small farmers Group of Cambitoon, Balintawak Farmers Association, Bikal Farmers Association, Dagnawan Womens Organization and Mantacida United Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Also there was Buyog Norte Farmers Association, Kalambuan sa katawhan sa La Esperenza, Kaliwat ni Dagohoy Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Bayongan Agricultural and Fishery Council, Santo Niflo Farmers association, Kapunongan sa mga Inahan nga Nagpakabana sa Kabataan. Dr. Lapiz and Romulo Garcia, OPV Supervising Agriculturist delivered comprehensive messages about the project and program accomplishments respectively. While Confederation of the Boholanos in the USA and Canada (CONBUSAC) past president Lito Dano told participants including other balikbayans who graced the affair of more good news with their partnership with HPI. For his part, Provincial Legal Officer Handel Lagunay officiated the induction of officers of the LETS HELP BOHOL Partners' Assocaition.

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