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. Maįæigos 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