Zamboanga City, Philippines – In a significant boost to the local farming community, 107 farmers from Zamboanga City graduated from the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Sustainable Agriculture Program, supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and the SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI). The graduation ceremony, along with a ceremonial check turnover, took place on November 8, 2024, at SM City Mindpro.
The SM Foundation’s KSK Program, which focuses on sustainable agriculture, is designed to empower farmers across the Philippines. This year’s batches, numbered 306 to 309, include farmers from four Zamboanga City barangays—Salaan, Lanzones, Cabaluay, and Culianan—who completed 14 weeks of training, receiving guidance and support from multiple national government agencies. The training covered essential farming practices, equipping the participants to tackle real-world challenges in agriculture.
SLP personnel visited the four barangays on November 7 to observe the outcomes of the 14-week program, during which the farmers displayed the fruits of their hard work. The SLP has also organized the graduates into four Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs), which now serve as platforms for collective growth and development.
Each association received certificates of completion and a seed capital fund to help kickstart their initiatives. In total, P1,605,000 was distributed among the four groups:
- Salaan Farmers SLPA: 25 members, P375,000
- Guisao-Lanzones Vegetables Farmers SLPA: 27 members, P405,000
- Cabaluay Farmers SLPA: 25 members, P375,000
- Culianan Rice and Vegetable Farmers SLPA: 30 members, P450,000
The two-day activity was attended by prominent figures from the DSWD and SLP, including Promotive Services Division Chief Rowena Mendoza, Regional Program Coordinator Shalimar Mona Escandar, Zamboanga-Isabela Provincial Coordinator Melanie Ladjamalik, and Regional Partnership Officer Julieta Midel. Representatives from partner agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and City Links of the Pantawid Program also showed their support.
The program aims to provide these farmers with practical knowledge, resources, and support systems that will empower them to thrive in sustainable agriculture, ultimately contributing to food security and economic stability in their communities.
