Sulu focuses on livelihood coops

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 11, 2008) - Seeing that poverty is the root cause of forms of criminality, the provincial government of Sulu has embarked on livelihood programs aimed to improve the economic conditions of the people, a report Tuesday by the official Philippine News Agency said.

It quoted Sulu information officer Bong Abing III, as saying that the provincial government headed by Gov. Abdusakur Tan and farmers are organizing into cooperatives to consolidate their efforts in undertaking economic activities.

So far, Abing said there are already 27 cooperatives that were organized in the entire province since Tan assumed as the governor of the province.

He said the officers of the cooperatives are trained on their roles and responsibilities in administering the affairs their organization to ensure they will have successful economic undertakings.

"We are addressing the peace and order problem by eradicating poverty and giving opportunities to people that's why, we are organizing cooperatives to consolidate the efforts of the farmers," Abing said.

"Kung mayroon ng trabaho ang mga tao, they will realize na masarappala mamuhay ng marangal unlike in the past," said Al Allian, the liaison officer of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to Sulu.

Abing said one of the cooperatives is engaged in coffee and corn farming in a 60-hectare land situated in the town of Indanan.

He said most of the cooperatives are into farming since Sulu that has a fertile soil is basically an agriculture-based province.

Aside from coffee and corn, the province of Sulu is suitable for other high-value crops like coconuts, mango and abaca and tropical fruits such as mangoosteen, durian and lanzones.
Abing said other cooperatives composed of municipal employees, teachers, market vendors, fisher folks, drivers, youths and women sector. The rest are into fishing and seaweed farming.

Allian said the DA has laid down plans and programs to strengthen the fishery sector of the province especially for those engaged in fish culture.

Allian said there is a need to further strengthen the fish cages in the province to ensure bountiful harvest thereby, increasing the income of the fisherfolks of the province. (PNA)