FLORA, APAYAO – What was once a landscape of dust and cracked earth has become a powerful story of survival and renewal. In the area locals call katartarawan, where crops once withered under the sun, the Bagutong Farmers Association is now harvesting not just product, but hope.
For years, farming families here lived at the mercy of the weather. With no irrigation system, they could plant only once a year. After harvest, their fields dry up for as long as eight months, leaving little income and forcing households to stretch what they had while waiting for the rains to return. Many quietly wondered how long they could endure such uncertainty.
The struggle seemed endless, until opportunity arrived through support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). A P645,000 grant under Cash-for-Work and Cash-for-Training allowed farmers to earn wages while building Small Farm Reservoirs (SFRs), simple yet life-changing water-harvesting systems that collect and store rainwater. These reservoirs are crucial in drought-prone areas, ensuring water is available beyond the rainy season and allowing farmers to plant more than once a year.
As the reservoirs filled, so did the community’s determination. Guided by the LGU Flora
Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and the Provincial Office of Agricultural Services (POAS), members joined the Farmers Field School where they adopted science- based, climate- resilient practices. They learned improved crop management, organic pest control, and strategic planting schedules, proof that technology and knowledge can turn vulnerability into strength.
The project soon grew beyond vegetables as the community realized they could no longer rely on a single source of livelihood. With support from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), tilapia fingerlings were raised in the reservoirs, while seeds from the Department of Agriculture (DA), POAS, and the LGU ensured steady harvests from the communal garden. What was once unused land become a hub of diverse and sustainable food production.
Under the steady leadership of Association President Corazon Antonio, members worked in organized shifts, maintained the reservoirs, raised for the fish, and kept careful records of every sale. Their produce reached consumers through the KADIWA Program, the KADIWA program is a government initiative in the Philippines that aims to bring affordable and quality agricultural products directly to consumers. It connects local farmers, fisher folk, and producers with buyers, especially in communities where access to fresh food can be limited or expensive.
Turning hard work into real income. “We used to wait for rain and worry about how to feed our families,” “Now, we work together, we plan, and we see the results of our patience.” Said Corazon Antonio, President of the Bagutong Farmers Association.
Today, the Association proudly reports P109,500 in total sales, a figure that represents more than earnings. It is capital for the next planting season, food on family tables, and renewed dignity for every member. From a community once defined by drought, Bagutong now stands as living proof that with unity, patience, and the rightsupport, even the driest land can yield a harvest of hope. #DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Alicia Mae T. Bragas (SMU Intern)
