DSWD ‘cash for work’ benefits Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Solsona

File photo of African night crawlers

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

SOLSONA, Ilocos Norte—At least 299 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in this town are now reaping what they have sown.

Remigio Hilario, 37, of Brgy. Maanteng was among those hardly hit by a typhoon three years ago. Starting from scratch after the devastation would have been hard for his family but thanks to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s ‘cash for work’ program, he was commissioned for a 10-day work and got paid P3,000. He used the money to start a vermiculture project, which the Solsona government wants farmers here to pursue.

Starting from a kilo of African night crawlers, which he feeds with readily available waste materials from home and the farm lands, he now maintains at least 30 kilos of vermi worms that produces organic fertilizer. These organic fertilizers are bought by the local government unit and sells it by bulk to farmer cooperatives, government agencies and other commercial traders.

Aside from the organic fertilizer produced, the vermi cast is also used to feed organic fattening hogs and nurture the growth of ornamental plants sold in the market and in various trade fairs.

Mang Remigio maintains at least four fattening hogs and his wife Daylin also earns at least P 1,000 a month from selling ornamental plants.

Moving from a typical ‘bahay kubo’ as their abode, Remigio’s house has transformed into a semi-furnished two-room bungalow house. Thanks to his regular income from selling organic fertilizer which is now becoming a hit to Ilocos farmers engaged in organic farming.

The Hilario family thanked the concerted efforts of the DSWD and the Solsona government in providing the capital assistance and in helping him gain a sustainable income from vermiculture.

In 2011, DSWD’s cash for work program was tapped by Solsona for the restoration of facilities damaged by a typhoon. After a 10-day work, each beneficiary was given assistance amounting to P3,080.00. But instead of giving them in cash, then Solsona mayor now vice mayor Joseph de Lara convinced them to buy vermi worms and purchase cement and steel bars for the construction of vermi beds in their backyards.

Showing the way in producing organic fertilizer through a practical and environment-friendly method of vermiculture, the Solsona government has assisted all the barangays including the 299 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries here who are now actively engaged in vermiculture.

For example, an average vermi compost producer can harvests at least 1,100 kilos of vermi cast for every 35 days sold at P4.00 per kilo. Among the market outlets of their products are the Ilocos Norte (PGIN) provincial government, Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAG), other city/municipalities such as Batac City, Marcos, Pinili, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and even private individuals who are into organic farming.