Zamboanguita,
a fifth class municipality in Negros Oriental is composed
of ten barangays, half of which are coastal and the other
half, upland. Around 3,000 farming and fishing families
live below poverty line, which was set at a an annual income
of Php 46,000 for a family of five. To alleviate poverty,
promote food security and ensure transportation, the local
government implemented the Comprehensive Agricultural Development
Program. This consisted of three major components; namely
1) the Daruhan sa Matag Mag-uuma, 2) the Libreng Sakay;
and 3) the Barato Baroto.
Daruhan
sa Matag Mag-uuma is a carabao dispersal scheme, wherein
marginal farming households with no working animals are
provided with a carabao. This allows them to till their
farm on time, expand their cultivated areas and save one-fourth
of their gross produce, which is usually paid for the lease
of a working animal. Coupled with the distribution of certified
seeds and access to the municipality’s fertilizer
loan program payable after harvest, the average farmer’s
yield increased from 15 to 60 cavans per planting season.
Libreng Sakay aimed to provide two state trucks for upland
farmers during market days to transport their farm products
to the Municipal Livestock and Flea Market. Access to transportation
gave the farmers the motivation to plant more crops. At
times, local folks were also allowed to use these vehicles
for burials, emergencies and other community activities.
The vehicles’ maintenance cost is shared among the
municipal government and barangays. Barato Baroto meanwhile,
provided interest-free loans of Php 2,500-3,000 each to
marginal fisherfolk with no fishing boats. This resulted
in improved catches from two kilos to six kilos a day.
The
success of the Comprehensive Agricultural Development Program
in Zamboanguita is a testament to the ability of a small
community to change its own destiny. The program’s
simplicity and its direct impact on the lives of farmers
and fisherfolk have inspired many more to pursue a better
life one step at a time.
