By: Rodielyn A. Manugas
Compostela Valley – Another advocacy for the goodbye gutom program of Bayan Anihan, Gawad Kalinga and the provincial and local government of the province sealed with an ink for Ube production last May 10, 2012.
Bayan-Anihan, which means «community harvest», believes that to solve the problem of hunger in the Philippines, we must empower the poor to produce their food with their own able hands believing that by empowering the poor, we can eradicate hunger.
Some of Pag-Asa at Bagong Buhay Kapitbahayan (New Bataan GK Village)became the pilot grower of Ube Production in partnership with Bayan Anihan, Gawad Kalinga and Selecta Corporation.
The Growers will have to take care of the ube (purple jam) production for ten (10)months until harvest time. They will be receiving an allowance for the ten months period and their product will be solely sold to Selecta corporation through the Bayan ANihan of Gawad Kalinga. Its an income generating project without capital.
Governor Uy and Mayor Balbin is very happy of the project. “We are setting up sustainable food programs in every impoverished community and bringing together concerned partners from corporations, to share their time, resources and expertise to the community to make sure that every Filipino family will never have to be hungry again. We believe that if we teach a man how to fish, in this case how to plant, we will indeed feed him for a lifetime. Today, Bayan-Anihan is planting the seeds of hope towards that beautiful vision of a hunger-free and prosperous province.” Uy said.
It is longed that all of the GK Villages in Comval will enjoy and benefit the Ube production project. (Rodielyn A. Manugas-IDS COMVAL)
