Farmers, fisherfolk in Iloilo receive aid, agri machinery from DA

Photo from Department of Agriculture – Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) said that it distributed various financial assistance and agricultural machinery for farmers and fisherfolk in Iloilo.

The DA gave P2.347 million of cash assistance to 515 farmer beneficiaries, while various associations received Kadiwa financial grants totaling P8.5 million for their respective projects.

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The PhilMech also gave P11.246 million worth of agricultural machinery, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources distributed P2.067 million of gill nets, marine engines, and tilapia fingerlings.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. also said that the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project Phase II, the first large-scale water reservoir that is now under construction, will be used for rice production.

“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,” Tiu-Laurel said.

(This is what we need to maximize the potential of Western Visayas in rice production. I am not dismissing the potential of this region to contribute more to the rice sufficiency of our country, and we will focus on it together with you farmers.)

The DA added that the project is 74 percent finished and will cover 31,480 hectares, with 25,000 farmers and 4,500 families of indigenous people.

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