KORONADAL  CITY,  Feb.  7 (PIA)  --   Around  1,869   members  of the  barangay  defense  system  in  Columbio  Sultan Kudarat  recently  received   livelihood assistance from the  Department of Agriculture -12 (DA-12)  amounting  to  almost P1.7 million.

Last  week,  the  DA 12 Regional  Executive  Director  Amalia Jayag-Datukan  handed assorted  fruit and  vegetable  seedlings, seeds, farm  machineries  and  facilities  -- amounting to P1,695,000 --   to the  27th Infantry  Battalion of the Philippine Army.

“This was granted to the Philippine Army under the AgriPinoy High Value Crops Development Program. Projects can be availed here through project proposal,” Datukan said.

 Included in the  livelihood package were   25 kg of  vegetable  seeds, 15,000 seedlings of assorted  fruits,  10,000  seedlings  of  cacao,  1 unit  of farm equipment, 11  sets of farm  tools,  22  plastic  drums,  2,000 meters of pipes, 22  sprayers, 1  nursery and  4  draft animals.

Lt.  Maria  Jessica Leviste, civil  military officer of the  27th IB , said  the beneficiaries of the    livelihood assistance  include  around  3,000  members of the  barangay  defense system in Columbio.

COTABATO CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) will undertake massive seedling production to meet the needs of  concerted tree planting campaign in the autonomous region.  

DENR-ARMM Regional Secretary Kahal Kedtag said the agency with the support of local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations, national line agencies, private sector and stakeholders has identified programs and projects to reinvigorate and protect the forests and environment.

Kedtag said while operations of 12 sawmill and a mining firm are suspended with the implementation of the total log ban in the wake of the massive disaster brought about tropical storm Sendong due to illegal cutting of trees, DENR-ARMM is embarking on massive seedling production.

Earlier, Kedtag identified two greening programs, “Adopt a Mountain” and "505" which the agency prioritizes to address problems on forest denudation through massive tree planting activities as only 48 percent of the more than 1,000 hectares forest cover remains in the autonomous region.

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Feb. 5 (PIA) -- Red won’t be the color of Valentine’s Day in Maguindanao Province. Instead, it will be a beautiful mix of colors of the Muslim culture as the local government, private sector, and residents celebrate their first Sagayan Festival.

Organizers said the staging of the five-day Sagayan Festival, which will start on Friday, Feb. 10, is a move to boost this Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao province’s ecotourism.

It is also geared to promote a better image for Maguindanao.

Although all 32 towns of Maguindanao will be participating in the festival, all Sagayan activities will be held at the interim provincial government seat, Buluan town.

Raquel Magalona, overall festival coordinator, said the opening day would be highlighted by a civic parade, opening of the agri-trade fair and a grand kanduli and thanksgiving banquet.

At the kanduli, Muslim delicacies and dishes made from tilapia, one of Buluan town’s primary products will definitely be served.