ILOILO – The town of Alimodian is willing to share the success of its integrated community food production (ICFP) project with beneficiaries of the National Anti-Poverty Commission’s (NAPC) poverty alleviation program.
NAPC secretary Noel Felongco visited the ICFP project in Alimodian’s “seven cities” on April 24 and recommended its replication upon seeing it was effective.
“Seven cities” – a cluster of seven barangays namely Cabacanan Proper, Cabacanan Rizal, Dao, Lico, Manasa, Tabug, and Umingan situated in the upland areas of the Alimodian – hosts the integrated food community project, which was implemented in 2015 and 2016.
Situated some 28 kilometers from the town proper, the cluster has a population of about 3,000, more than 100 of whom are farmers.
Alimodian mayor Geefre Alonsabe said Felongco has informed him to “present the project in other regions.”
He added: “I am ready to present our project, anytime, upon the invitation of the secretary.”
Alonsabe said the project was financed by the NAPC, focused on producing “sufficient food.”
But the local government unit also contributed P1 million for the project.
“We trained our farmers on modern farming and link them with incoming proposed projects from other NGOs (nongovernment organizations),” Alonsabe said.
He added that their produce, especially high-value crops, do not only supply the town’s needs but are also exported to neighboring towns. They also tie up with supermarkets in Iloilo City and Boracay Island.
“I am confident that we have enough produce for our local consumption in spite of the drought,” the mayor said./PN
