LIVELIHOOD AID. Two members of a farmers association arrange the broiler chicks at a poultry farm in Zamboanga del Norte. The Department of Agriculture, through the Special Area for Agricultural Development project, released on Thursday (Oct. 21, 2021) some PHP1.6 million in livelihood assistance to three associations of farmers in Zamboanga del Norte province. (Photo courtesy of DA-9) ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program, has released Thursday some PHP1.6 million worth of livelihood assistance to three farmer associations in Zamboanga del Norte under the Broiler Chicken Raising Project. DA Regional Executive Director Rad Donn Cedeno said in a statement Thursday that the agriculture agency remains steadfast in providing livelihood to farmers despite the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Zamboanga del Norte province. Cedeno said that the recipients of the livelihood project are the Oyan Farmers Association in Sibutad; Poblacion Women's Association in Mutia; and, the Tampilisan Subanen Cultural Minority Association (TSCMA) in Tampilisan. Cedeno said that two of the three associations received 9,900 broiler chicks, 482 bags of feeds (starter, booster, and finisher), and some biologics. He said that the TSCMA received 5,900 broiler chicks, which will be distributed to its three clusters in the north, east, and west part of the province of Zamboanga del Norte. Allan Elumbaring, Oyan Farmers Association president, said they are thankful for the livelihood assistance given to them by DA, through the SAAD. Elumbaring said that they had previously benefitted from the carabao (water buffalo) and cattle dispersal project of the SAAD and that now they are venturing into broiler chicken raising. "We commit to do our best in managing this farm. Our association will help us get through in life amidst the pandemic," he said. Cedeno said that the three associations were chosen as SAAD program beneficiaries to help them get through the Covid-19 pandemic. The province of Zamboanga del Norte is placed under modified enhanced Community quarantine (MECQ) from October 15 to 31 due to a surge in Covid-19 cases. Zamboanga del Norte has the third-highest active cases of Covid-19 in the region, with 1,687 cases. Latest data from the Department of Health in Zamboanga Peninsula DOH-9) showed that Zamboanga del Norte has so far recorded 8,855 cases of Covid-19, with 6,819 recoveries, 1,687 active cases, and 348 deaths. (PNA) }