President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday gave away a total of P543.16 in government “interventions” for the procurement of modern farming equipment meant to boost and stabilize national food security.
Mr. Marcos, who is also Secretary of Agriculture, underscored the importance of agriculture as the centerpiece of his administration, particularly in the country’s struggle for economic recovery and progress.
“With your great contribution to the country’s agriculture, we sincerely thank you all for your efforts to feed our countrymen. As your President, expect that our administration will always support agriculture,” the President said in brief remarks at the distribution ceremony held in Muñoz City, Nueva Ecija.
Funded through the DA-rice program, the San Andres Small WaterIrrigation System Association (SWISA) of Muñoz received P6 million for the rehabilitation of its impounding project.
The Makabagong Magsasaka MPC of Cabanatuan City, on the other hand, got P5 million for the construction of a warehouse with mechanical dryer.
Also for the Nueva Ecija rice sector, the DA’s Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) distributed P15.97 million worth of hand tractors, four-wheel tractors, transplanters, rice combine harvesters, recirculating dryers, and precision seeders from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
During the event attended by some 2,500 farmer-beneficiaries,exhibitors and DA project partners, the President noted that there are now several local manufacturers of farm inputs, machinery, and equipment evolving from scientific researches and technological innovations meant to improve agricultural productivity.
Marcos said the national government and its partners “continue to plan and provide for the needs of the agri-fishery sector for it to be more prepared, resilient, and not importation-dependent if another crisis comes, especially now that an El Niño warning has been raised.”
The Chief Executive added that strengthening the local agricultural valuechain system is another important task being pursued by the government.
The agricultural subsidies distributed during the event included P40 million each for the construction of 20,000-bag capacity onion cold storage facility of the Calancuasan Sur Farmers Association of Cuyapo and the San Vicente Alintutuan Irrigators Association of Laur funded under the DA-High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).
The DA-Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) also allottedP209.955 million for the Nueva Ecija provincial local government unit (LGU) and P211.834 million for the Bongabon municipal government for the construction of a 120,000-bag capacity onion cold storage facility.
Through the DA-Enhanced Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance Program, the Bonifacio Multi-purpose Cooperative of Cuyapo town and the New Magilas Primary Cooperative of Bongabon received P1 million and P2.4 million, respectively, for their working capital and hauling truck.
The Lupao Crops and Swine Raisers Association and the Try Me Agriculture Cooperative of Muñoz pocketed P5.5 million each forthe establishment of a bio-secure swine housing facility under the DA-Livestock Program.
“What I always remind all our colleagues in the government, not only must production increase, the livelihood of our farmers must also improve so that they do not suffer, do not sink into debt,” the President said as he expressed optimism in achieving higher food sufficiency levels for the country in the coming years.
