By Brian Jules Campued
Farmers and fishermen in Iloilo received a total of P909.68 million in various agri-fishery interventions on Wednesday during an event attended by at least 700 stakeholders, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
The DA-Western Visayas extended P5,000 each to about 392 farmers who were registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture and those who cultivate at least two hectares of farmland.
Said cash aid came from the 2021 and 2022 allocation of DA-Region VI under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance.
On the other hand, fuel subsidy worth P3,150 each were given to 123 farmers under the Fuel Assistance to Farmers Project.
A total of 17,870 farmers from the region are set to receive fuel subsidies. According to DA, Iloilo province comprises the highest number of farmer-beneficiaries at 7,680 individuals–Negros has 4,281, followed by Antique (2,323), Capiz (2,064), Guimaras (885), and Aklan (637).
To boost market linkage and value-adding activities, Kadiwa financial grants amounting to P8.5 million were handed to Iloilo Science and Technology University, Pavia Livestock Growers Association, Pavia Entrepreneurs Multipurpose Cooperative, Kooperatiba Natun MPC, and Panay Darag Chicken Breeders Association.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. turned over P11.246 million worth of walk-behind transplanters, riding-type transplanters, rice precision seeders, rice combine harvesters, and single-pass rice mill from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.
“Hangad po ng ating Pangulo Ferdinand Marcos na ma-modernize ang ating mga magsasaka kaya katuwang natin dito ang ating Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) para patuloy tayong magbibigay ng mga mekanisasyon para sa clustered associations and cooperatives,” Sec. Laurel said.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources distributed gill nets, 10 horsepower marine engines, and P2.067 million worth of tilapia fingerlings.
“Moreover, concerned local government units received the No Objection Letter (NOL) 1 for the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) infrastructure development projects worth P885.52 million,” DA said in a statement.
Jalaur River Multipurpose Project
Laurel also inspected the construction of the second phase of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) which is expected to be finished within the year and be fully operational by mid-2025.
The JRMP II will serve 23 towns and two cities in Iloilo as well as irrigate an additional 9,500 hectares of rainfed farms on top of the existing 22,340 hectares, according to DA.
The project is set to increase rice production by 71% or up to 338,000 metric tons and benefit 25,000 farmers and 4,500 indigenous peoples in the province.
The P19.7-billion infrastructure project of the National Irrigation Administration also has “a 6.6-megaWatt power generation, bulk water, fishery, tourism, flood control, housing for indigenous people, and carbon sequestration components,” the agency added.
“Ito po ang kailangan natin para ma-maximize ang potential ng Western Visayas in rice production. Hindi ko po isinasantabi ang potensyal ng rehiyon na ito to contribute more for rice sufficiency of our country at talagang tututukan po namin kasama kayong mga magsasaka,” the agri chief said. – avds
