Organic farm benefits Cagayan villages

AS chairman of the Poverty Reduction Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Region 2 launched an organic farm in Barangay Anurturu, Rizal, Cagayan on Friday.

Tesda Director General Isidro Lapeña said the project was a convergence with the concerned government agencies anchored in the “whole-of-nation” approach.

“What PRLEC is doing today is just a start, and it will become a continuing project,” he added.

Lapeña said the government and the private sector should work hand-in-hand to provide knowledge, skills and training programs that would help the poor.

PRLEC aims to train village folk in the production of organic vegetables, hogs, goats, fertilizers and chickens.

In addition, PRLEC members contributed up to P1.2 million for the utilities and materials needed in the implementation of the program from August to October this year.

The priority villages in the said town are Liwan, Minanga and Anurturu, which are under the Retooled Community Support Program.

On the part of the provincial government, Gov. Manuel Mamba said its support for these remote areas has been continuous.

“We have employed 30 rebel returnees in the provincial government,” he added.

Town Mayor Brenda Ruma said through this farm, the people of the village were gainfully employed.

The program is also anchored to the “wholeof-nation” approach of the National Task ForceEnding Local Communist Armed Conflict.