FREE SERVICES. Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Abel F. Wagas handed vegetable seeds and seedlings to Simowao Elementary School of Living Tradition School Head Joel M. Tejero during the outreach program and school visitation.	SMILES OF HOPE. Pupils and parents were entertained by the magic performed by the men in uniform of the Philippine army.

In line with the government’s efforts to end local communist armed conflict, the Department of Agriculture – Caraga provided agricultural interventions to Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities during an Outreach Program and School Visitation at Simowao Elementary School of Living Tradition in Sitio Simowao, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, on March 6. 

The initiative was part of a broader collaboration among 17 national government agencies (NGAs), including the DA, to bring essential services closer to communities, students, teachers, and parents. This effort aligns with Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalizes a “whole-of-government approach” in addressing security concerns and promoting development in conflict-affected areas. 

According to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Caraga Regional Director Maria Loisella E. Lucino, Simowao Elementary School of Living Tradition is one of the largest IP schools in the region, with 106 enrolled students. 

“We are bringing services directly to their doorstep—from personal care and school supplies to agricultural support. These initiatives serve as part of our response to safety and security concerns in these areas,” Lucino stated. 

As part of its contribution, DA-Caraga distributed 140 grafted durian seedlings, 100 banana suckers, 140 mushroom fruiting bags, 100 heads of free-range chicken, 500 pouches of assorted vegetable seeds, and various Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on farming. 

Lianga Mayor Novelita M. Sarmen expressed her gratitude to the RTF-ELCAC for bringing government services closer to its constituents. “This program demonstrates a united effort to deliver essential services to communities affected by armed conflict,” Mayor Sarmen said. 

Irene Lopez, a farmer and resident of Sitio Simowao, expressed her gratitude for the assistance, noting that access to free seedlings and farming inputs is a significant help to her livelihood. 

“I’ve been struggling to find quality seeds, so I’m grateful for these free seedlings that I can plant in my garden,” she said. 

The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), established under Executive Order No. 70, is a collaborative effort among national and local government agencies to address the root causes of insurgency and armed conflict, particularly in geographically disadvantaged and isolated areas. (Kent Warren H. Fugoso, DA-Caraga-RAFIS)