LAGANGILANG, Abra (PIA) – Four  Abrenian beneficiaries of the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” (BP2) program will soon put up their own poultry house with  livelihood intervention from the government.
 
The beneficiaries received agri-based livelihood package from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office of Cordillera (DA-RFO-CAR) last February 9 during a turn over program  in Brgy. Nagsayangan in this town led ny BP2 Focal Person   Lito Mocati and APCO-Abra Head. Dr. Rose Tesoro to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Lagangilang represented by the staff of the Office of Municipal Agriculturist (OMAG).

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office of Cordillera (DA-RFO-CAR)  led by BP2 Focal Person   Lito Mocati and APCO-Abra Head. Dr. Rose Tesoro   recently turned over agri-based livelihood assistance  to the local government unit  of Lagangilang represented by the staff of the Office of Municipal Agriculturist (OMAG).    

Each beneficiary got a total of 65 heads of chicken layers with starter and grower feeds, various farming tools, seedlings and 15 bags of organic plant supplements.     
 
Before the turn-over ceremony, Tesoro provided  an overview on the BP2 program for the information of the recipients.
 
“This program was designed by the government exclusively for you which aims to give you a new hope and a new start as you come back here in Abra,”  Tesoro explained. She    expressed hope  that the starter kits given to the beneficiaries will  help sustain their daily needs in the province.
 
 Lorma Belarmino, who represented her husband ,Rodolfo Belarmino who is the BP2  principal beneficiary,  expressed   gratitude for the livelihood support they received.  She shared   that she encouraged her husband  to come home to  Abra    with the difficulty of  life in  in Manila due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
“Sa Manila po natratrabaho ang asawa ko bilang driver ngunit noong nag-lockdown na, wala nang pasaheros kaya nawalan siya ng trabaho. Kaya sinabi ko na umuwi nalang dito sa Abra,”  Lorma recalled. She said that they did not expect to receive as much under the BP2 program.
 
“Hindi po namin inakala na ganito kalaking halaga ang matatanggap namin  from BP2. Malaking tulong na ‘to sa aming pamilya, maraming salamat sa Bp2 program,”she added. She plans  to multiply their poultry soon and to further engage in entrepreneurship.
 
Mocati said that the government will also fund the construction of their chicken layer’s housing to prevent addition expenses from the beneficiaries.
 
The BP2 program is an initiative of the national government to decongest Metro  Manila or other highly urbanized cities  by encouraging  informal urban settlers to  return to the provinces.  Beneficiaries   are provided with  support such as livelihood and hoising  assistance  for an improved quality of life in rural areas.  (JDP/CAGT – PIA CAR, Abra)