CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) joins President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on September 13, conferring government assistance and services during the simultaneous nationwide “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat” program.
Hosted by the provincial government of Misamis Oriental at its capitol grounds, the agri department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) took part, setting aside some PhP26.01-million (M) for the said province and handing over PhP6.11-M worth of various interventions during the event, of which is eyed to contribute to the region’s bid in achieving food security and making the agri sector a profitable industry for farmers, fisherfolk and other stakeholders involved in the value chain.
Before the Misamisnons, on behalf of Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, Wilson V. Lagdamin, MisOr provincial operations chief of DA-10 reported that the roster of assistance covers the staging of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, provision of vegetable seeds (1k packets), plastic crates (736 pieces), fuel subsidy assistance (3k to 1,500 farmers owning agri machinery and equipment), forage chopper (1 unit to Retablo Credit Cooperative of Libertad town), frontline services (technical assistance, market linkages and IEC materials), and crop insurance indemnity claims to calamity-stricken farmers, with the latter from the Philippine Crop Insurance, Corp. (PCIC).
This amount also forms part of the agency’s total allocation for NorMin of some PhP343.07-M. Of the remaining amount is for Bukidnon with about PhP215.88-M, Lanao del Norte (PhP71.39-M), Misamis Occidental (PhP26.98-M), and Camiguin with an estimated PhP2.81-M.
Provided interventions include production support services, postharvest support, agricultural machinery and equipment, livestock and poultry animals, among other things.
Via a livestream patch and witnessed by a crowd of around a thousand on-site, President Marcos together with the DA chief, Francisco Tiu P. Laurel Jr. led the launching of the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program, in Guimbam, Nueva Ecija.
The program is for rice farmer-members of agricultural farmers’ cooperatives across 1.2-M hectares throughout the country, where it aims to augment farmers’ productivity and income by giving low-cost credit, financial support, and a ready market come harvest seasons through the National Food Authority (NFA) and DSWD.
“Sa tulong ng programa na ito, ang bawat magsasaka ay [makatatanggap] ng tinatawag na Interventions Monitoring Card (IMC) na magagamit sa pagbili ng binhi, ng abono, at iba pang kagamitan sa pagsasaka mula sa accredited merchants.
Bukod dito, bibigyan din namin kayo ng P32k tulong-pantawid, na ipamamahagi ang P8k tuwing unang linggo sa loob ng apat na buwan.” the President detailed, further noting that it will ensure rice farmers have subsistence allowance until their harvests.
With the initiative tailored to meet farmers’ challenges on access to financing, escalating costs of farm inputs, and market inputs, Secretary Laurel added: “Nais natin makita ang ating mga magsasaka na umangat sa sariling pagsisikap kasama ang suporta ng pamahalaan.”
The Handog ng Pangulo program features the collective effort of DA, DSWD, DOLE, TESDA and DTI in bringing the different government services closer to the Filipinos toward a Bagong Pilipinas.#(JLO/Photos supplied)
