DDB expands project vs. marijuana farming

CEBU, Philippines - Given the successful outcome of its Alternative Development Program (ADP) in Balamban, Cebu, the Dangerous Drugs Board is seeking to expand the project to the other towns in Cebu like Dalaguete, Alcoy, other areas of Balamban and cities of Danao and Toledo where the agency also received reports of marijuana farming.

The DDB yesterday met with officials of the said municipalities and cities to discuss about the expansion of the program and laid out all the requirements for the ADP to be implemented soon in their respective areas. This is to help farmers to find an alternative livelihood instead of planting marijuana.

The meeting was attended by former DDB Chairman Vicente Sotto III as per invitation by DDB.

“Yung mga napaghuhuli ng PNP meron sa Danao, meron sa Dalaguete and not just in Balamban. Recently about 3000 stalks were caught in Dalaguete and And there are probably areas that are not identified yet, we could get a better picture by asking the PNP. So it’s alarming and why we’ll we leave it at that while we have a very successful program in Balamban,” Sotto said.

“During my term, the Alternative Development Program in Cebu, particularly in Balamban for abaca production in replacement of marijuana plantation, is very successful,” he said, adding that Balamban is now a full blown successful abaca plantation through the help of DDB which provided P2.3 million of funds to 82 families formerly engaged in marijuana planting.

He said that abaca production is very fruitful not only to the farmers but also to the municipality and to the government in its fight against illegal drugs.

“In the world, 86 percent of our abaca production is exported. We export abaca being used for papers, for so many things, napakaraming pinag-gagamitan ng abaca e. There is not enough in our market,” Sotto said. He reiterated that the technique of planting abaca aims to boost abaca planting in Cebu which is an ideal place for growing the said plant and which also promises the farmers around 77 percent increase in income.

Now is also a good timing to invest in abaca planting because in Bicol, where the biggest abaca plantation is located, there are problems in farming because of a virus, he added.

Sotto however clarified that the ADP is not limited only to abaca farming as some alternatives include silk worm and silk production, and livestock among others. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/WAB (THE FREEMAN)