MARAWI CITY—Vice President Leni Robredo turned over a package of livelihood subsidies that included an abaca processing equipment to 22 farmers in Piagao town, Lanao del Sur, on Wednesday.
Taken through Robredo’s Angat Buhay antipoverty flagship program, the livelihood resources consisted of an abaca stripping machine, 66 sacks of organic fertilizer, 44 sickles and two sprinklers.
Piagapo Mayor Ali Sumandar underscored the importance of the abaca livelihood subsidies, noting that the town has an intensive abaca farming industry.
Sumandar said most of the town farmers are into abaca fiber processing as it has proven to be profitable for them over the years, especially that they are now negotiating with more investors through the assistance of Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo).
Mohammad Datumanong, a beneficiary, said the abaca -stripping machine has long been a priority need, as they currently sell their unprocessed abaca fiber for a cheaper price.
Datumanong, who maintains a six-hectare abaca farm, said he has been multi-cropping abaca with falcatta trees to helps boost agricultural productivity.
In her short talk with the farmers, Robredo said her office is also looking to partner with Tapukan Farmers Movement for Progress and Concord Inc. (TFMPCI) for capacity building trainings for the abaca farmer-beneficiaries.
Specifically, these trainings would focus on enterprise development and financial literacy, she said.
TFMPCI is a non -government organization that operates in the municipalities of Piagapo and Saguiaran. (Irma Boza/PNA)
