Written By Neyzielle Ronnicque Cadiz, Writer, Operation Blessing Philippines

The municipal government of Palo, Leyte chose beneficiaries of Operation Blessing’s Production and Demo Farm on Integrated Organic Farming to represent the town in the first ever Agri-Harvest Festival, joined by representatives from all the municipalities of Leyte. The event was sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry.

There were 43 entries from three cities and 40 municipalities of Leyte during the festival. It was a way for the local government of Leyte to monitor how the people have overcome the agricultural challenges after Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated the crops in the Visayas.

The event was conducted to identify who among the agricultural aid beneficiaries became successful in utilizing the blessings they received from different non-government organizations. In fact, the vegetable crops these beneficiaries harvested were showcased in the festival. Indeed, OB’s demo-farm beneficiaries won the hearts of the municipal employees of Palo, earning their trust for the festival.

On the other hand, our beneficiaries are already in their second cropping. In fact, they are regularly supplying veggies to a local private restaurant and they are even the official distributor to the residents of another humanitarian organization’s village. Every two weeks, the beneficiaries’ friends also personally visit the demo-farm to import veggies that they can sell to the local market.

“They take home the veggies that they were not able to sell. It is not only for them but for their whole family,” said Relia Gariando, OB’s livelihood coordinator in Visayas.

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The beneficiaries are receiving all these blessings because of their commitment to OB’s cause. As a matter of fact, the beneficiaries gain a maximum of PhP20,000 a month which they utilize for the next cropping.

Operation Blessing, always committed to restore the lives and belongings of the people from Visayas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, continuously extends its aid to nurture the agricultural awareness of its beneficiaries.

It is not always about the success of the project extended but the compassion, drive, and commitment we are planting in the lives of the people we help. Inspire change today! Call us at 477-7802 to 04 and 06 or visit our website on www.obphil.com/home for more details.