Friday, April 24, 2015

DA pours in over 300 million worth agri-projects in Lanao Norte

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 24): DA pours in over 300 million worth agri-projects in Lanao Norte

LALA, Lanao del Norte, April 24 (PIA)- Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has reached out around 4,000 farmers and fisherfolks and other agri-stakeholders  in his 2-day sortie in the province of Lanao del Norte on April 22-23, 2015.

Dubbed as ‘Panagtigum sa Mga Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda uban ni DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala’ (Convergence of Farmers/Fisherfolks with DA Sec. Proceso J. Alcala), the Secretary in a Forum was able to interact with the farmers and fisherfolks in their clamor for more interventions from the Department.

In his visit, the Department of Agriculture region 10 (DA-10) turned over directly to Kauswagan recipients the interventions of 10 heads of carabao under Arms to Farms Project, specifically to armed-afflicted areas who now returned to mainstream society as they now feel the government’s sincerity to provide them to live a normal and quality of life.

The Secretary also witnessed the ceremonial turn-over of check amounting to P1.8 million to 12 Kumander returnees of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), each to receive P150, 000 for their project.

Interventions turned-over to all town recipients during the two-day visit of Sec. Alcala include goats, carabaos, cattle, animal drawn plow, seedlings (durian, lanzones, rambutan), assorted vegetable seeds, coffee, rice seeds for low and upland areas, OPV corn seeds, laminated sacks, 4WD 90HP farm tractor, rice thresher, hammer mill, and carabao for Arms to Farms Project.

Apart from those interventions mentioned above are Certificates of Award turned-over to town recipients for power tiller and infrastructure. Also, there are four towns to receive thru fund transfer for organic agriculture, bottom-up-budgeting, and other services.  A raffle draw highlighted during cluster visit, with goats, carabao with implements and cattle, awarded to lucky winners drawn.

Interventions from attached agencies- the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), National Dairy Authority (NDA) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) turned over to recipient towns are fishing gears, distribution of fresh milk, and the indemnity checks, respectively.

Its grand total cost of interventions amounted to Php 312,589,438.00.

Activities set in the province

The Secretary and DA-10 regional team were warmly received by the provincial government officials led by Governor Khalid Q. Dimaporo and all local chief executives from the 22 municipalities in the province.

With a theme, “Pakighiusa Alang sa Kalamboan Pang-Agrikultura sa Lanao del Norte,” the 22 municipalities were clustered under three host towns- Matungao, Lala and Kolambugan.

The first leg was at Sultan Macalpang D. Permites Central School gymnasium in Matungao on April 22.  Secretary Alcala and his entourage was warmly received by around 1,200 farmers from Cluster 1  municipalities composed of Linamon, Baloi, Tagoloan, Pantar, Munai, Poona Piagapo and the host town-Matungao. Local chief executives from these municipalities were present too, except Munai.

Town Mayor Aisha Mangotara-Azis of Matungao expressed her gratitude to the good Secretary for taking his time with the farmers, an opportunity for the town’s folks to talk with the Secretary in a forum, hearing his views on the government’s program on agriculture, likewise, the town’s expression of thanks for all the interventions they received on this day.

The second day was loaded with events, started off at Lala- the host town, held in the morning at the municipal gymnasium, with  Cluster 3 municipalities composed of Kapatagan, Salvador, Tubod, Baroy, Sultan Naga Dimaporo (SND), Sapad, Magsaysay, Nunungan and Lala, with around 1,500 participants.

Mayor Allan J. Lim of Lala cited how beautiful and bountiful Lanao del Norte in terms of agriculture, how the government’s technology on agriculture improved the lives of the farmers and fisherfolks. He revealed the recognition received- Lala, as the National Rice Achiever’s Award of the Department of Agriculture, for two consecutive years.

In the afternoon, the Secretary preceded to the Municipal Civic Center in Kolambugan- the host town, for another forum with some 1,100 agi-clientelle. The Cluster 2 municipalities composed of Maigo, Pantao Ragat, Bacolod, Tangkal and Kolambugan. 

On the other hand, Town Mayor Lorenzo V. Maῆigos of Kolambugan, said these interventions they received today would greatly benefit farmers and fisherfolks for more production and harvest.

Sec. Alcala’s last stop was in Kauswagan. He was met by Mayor Rommel C. Arnado and the town’s constituents. 

Mayor Arnado said the Secretary’s visit in Kauswagan was timely in celebration of the town’s Agri-Aqua & Livestock Fair on its 67th Kasikas sa Umahan, this year, falls every month of April.

Meanwhile, Sec. Alcala, stressed some points that the government under the PNoy administration has allotted 30 percent in the Department of Agriculture’s program and services to Mindanao. For Northern Mindanao, DA has reported farmers served of 35,840 in 2014, an increase of 93 percent from its record in 2010 of 18,562 farmers. This refers to project interventions like irrigation and infrastructures, farm-to-market road, farm machineries and equipment, technology and product support services, and barangay/municipal food terminal.

Alcala encouraged farmers and fisherfolks and to all those who availed to share to everyone how the government’s programs and services benefit them.

On his part, Governor Khalid Dimaporo invites everyone from Luzon and Visayas to experience how peace-loving people in Lanao Norte are, and see for themselves the agri-interventions availed, and how PNoy administration looks into Mindanao as potential food granary of the country.

Lanao Norte has an allocation of Php1,115,465.673 for 22 municipalities from DA-10 allocation of Php5,087,279,870, year 2010-2015. We are privileged to have this share, expressed Gov. Dimaporo.

The visit of the Secretary in our province touched our hearts when he stayed overnight here at the MCC Hotel, we really felt his presence in the province when he engaged himself with the farmers and fisherfolks, the first Secretary to have visited and toured around different towns in a limited but spared quality time with the agri folks, said Dimaporo.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1511429862658/da-pours-in-over-300-million-worth-agri-projects-in-lanao-norte

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.