BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is upbeat in the declaration of support by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to the province’s agriculture sector, including the sugar industry.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., who welcomed Piñol during his two-day visit to Negros Occidental on Thursday and Friday, thanked the secretary for coming to the province and personally listening to the plight of the Negrense farmers.
“We are happy that we have this occasion. The President, through the working agriculture secretary, really believes that there is a need to help the farmers because they are the real modern heroes,” the governor said.
Marañon said he is confident that Piñol will help the Negrenses as he is a “hands-on” DA chief.
During his two-day visit, Piñol distributed PHP14 million worth of projects to farmers and fisherfolk and pledged at least P123 million worth of credit assistance and technical support.
He also conducted a dialogue with the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers and a forum with sugar industry stakeholders on Friday.
Piñol said he will help Negrenses in addressing the issues and challenges faced by the sugar industry.
He added that he understands the plight of the sugar industry stakeholders as he was also sugarcane planter before becoming a government official.
The DA chief noted the “very slow utilization” of the PHP2 billion annual allocation of the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SIDA).
“For the year 2016, less than 50 percent of the SIDA fund was utilized. That’s the reason why DBM (Department of Budget and Management) cut the PHP1 billion for the farm-to-mill roads,” he said.
Piñol said he appealed to the senators in the last budget hearing to restore the PHP2- billion fund because it is provided in the SIDA
Moreover, Piñol said he doesn’t think President Rodrigo Duterte will abolish SRA.
“I think the President only floated that idea. You know how the President is, he floats an idea and when you explain to him the right perspective, he listens,” he added. (PNA)
