BUTUAN CITY -- Not just peacekeepers, the police are also feeding the people now.

In a bid to extend beyond their duty of keeping the peace and order of the barangays under their jurisdiction, the Butuan City Station 5 personnel have engaged in a mushroom production project to show the community how they can earn a living.

Station 5 covers 11 barangays that include Amparo, Bitan-agan, Tungao, San Mateo, Florida, Mandamo, Nongnong, MJ Santos, Manila de Bugabus, Dankias, and Dulag.

According to Police Major Roland Orcullo, the head of Station 5, the Station Action Council (SAC) wanted to come up with a project to help the livelihood of the residents of the covered barangays. The SAC is composed of representatives of various sectors including education, business, health, and agriculture.

Orcullo said they wanted something that is doable and not costly so they chose mushroom production.

Oyster mushroom is an edible mushroom. Considered a vegetable, it is rich in protein, vitamins B and C, minerals, and low in fat.

To realize the project, the SAC sought the assistance of the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga and requested a training on mushroom production. The training was conducted at the DA-Caraga Del Monte Lowland Rainfed Research Station back in the month of May this year. Members of the SAC and other Barangay Officials attended the training.

After the training, the DA provided them with 1,000 oyster mushroom fruiting bags to start their project. The fruiting bags were placed in the old health center in Brgy. San Mateo. The personnel of the Station 5 takes charge of its care and maintenance. Last week, they have started harvesting.

Orcullo said now that they have seen that it is easy to manage, he wants the project to be replicated in other barangays under Station 5.

“This project will be a big help to the people especially since have lost their jobs due to the pandemic,” he said.

On the other hand, DA-Caraga Regional Technical Director Rebecca R. Atega said that she is happy that even the police force has also taken the initiative to help produce food for the people. She assured Major Orcullo that DA is willing to assist such initiatives. (Vanessa P. Sanchez, DA 13-RAFIS/PIA Agusan del Norte)