OWWA TRAINS BISLIG OFCS ON AGRI-FARMING

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Caraga (OWWA Caraga) has just concluded a two-day activity training on a separate occasion for vegetable farming and egg production last July 6 and 7, respectively, in this city.

The said activity was participated by 65 members of Overseas Filipino Workers Family Circles (OFCs) OFWReturnees in Bislig (OFWRIB) and the OFC Tabon Overseas Filipino Workers Association (OFCTOFWA).

OWWA Caraga Regional Director Ma. Ireen Cambaling, in her message, emphasized the overview of the said activity to which the participants can look forward, like to equip the OFC groups with their livelihood enterprise in the future.

On behalf of Bislig City Mayor Florencio Garay, LGU-Executive Assistant Oscar Macua, delivered the message of support

Photo credit to OWWA-Caraga

to the program for the Bisliganon beneficiaries.

As part of the agency’s ongoing information drive campaign, the Tulong PUSO (Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa PagUnlad ng Samahang OFWs) guidelines and procedures were announced and elaborated to the participants. Also, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) will spearhead the conduct of periodic monitoring and evaluation. The program

was made available for: Livelihood Start-Up, Livelihood Expansion, and Livelihood Restoration.

The Tulong PUSO program is a one-time livelihood financial grant that supports the proposed business plan of the OFW Groups that are duly recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

During the first day of the program, Myshl Yungcat, Agri-tech of the City Agriculture Office-Bislig tackled the Nursery Establishment and Operation. Good accessibility is a requirement for a nursery area so that delivery of nursery materials and transportation of seedlings to the planting sites is easy and safe, the speaker said.

The OFC members of OFW-RIB under the leadership of Eddie Saballa were also given a chance to explore the project site of the vegetable farming area in Bislig as part of the training activities for additional learning together with OWWA Caraga officers and CAO representatives.

On the second day, Egg Production training took place at Tabon Barangay Hall in Barangay Tabon of Bislig with the OFC TOFWA members under Celestino T. Mundas Jr., Jovil Lumantas of PILMICO, and Dr. Marjorie S. Cambronero of the City Veterinary Office who discussed the basic concepts of layer production, and health management when venturing into the poultry business. Some points to consider during the layer management were elaborated by the facilitators such as the proper cleaning and disinfection of layer house, feeding space, and watering space.

As much as possible, disease should be prevented, one of the speakers emphasized.

The resource speakers also gave a site evaluation to the egg production area in Bislig City for the participants to witness the actual egg production as part of the training activity. (OWWACaraga/PIA-Surigao del Sur)