Narvacan, Ilocos Sur—The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) awarded on March 7 a grant worth P97,000 to the Sucoc Farmers’ Association (SFA) under the Common Facility Assistance during a simple ceremony held at Barangay Sucoc in this town. Witnessed by several local government officials and members of the community led by Narvacan Mayor Edgardo D. Zaragosa and SFA President Geronimo Cabrera, the SFA received from DOLE Regional Director Gerry Cirilo the tractor purchased from the aid grant. The tractor will be used by the 101 members of the association to facilitate agricultural activities. Cirilo said the grant aims to uplift the economic conditions of Sucoc farmers and give more hope to their families as he also committed the DOLE, through the Ilocos Sur Provincial Labor Office (ISPLO), to closely monitor the project’s implementation to ensure that the project’s objective is achieved. Cirilo also added that DOLE may give additional grants to other barangays and farming communities in this town. In his acceptance speech, Cabrera thanked the DOLE in behalf of the association as he reiterated the SFA’s commitment to the local officials to coordinate and cooperate with one another, to remain committed to the association, and to harness their efforts in order for their group to progress into a cooperative. Meanwhile, Zaragosa also thanked the DOLE for the grant and expressed hopes that the grant “will pave the way for more assistance to come.” The mayor encouraged the SFA members to exert more effort so they could become a cooperative, citing that in developed countries, rural workers have federations that help them to improve their socio-economic conditions. He also said that he believes cooperatives in communities are the “best strategy to uplift the life of the poor,” as he vowed that the local government would provide a counterpart fund equal to the association’s capital if SFA becomes a cooperative. The mayor also mentioned other government projects available to farming communities like the local irrigation system under the Department of Land Reform (DLR) and the Asian Development Bank which is scheduled to accomplished by the end of June this year. Barangay Sucoc is one of many barangays in Narvacan growing farm products as its main source of economic activity. The SFS was the first rural workers’ association to receive such grant in the municipality under the PRESEED-CFA program of DOLE.
Sarah Perez-Oballes
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