BONTOC, Mountain Province – The provincial government distributed agricultural types of machinery and equipment and other production supplies worth PhP3.28 million from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-RFO-CAR) and corn seeds from the Cordillera officer of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to Mountain Province farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs).
The activity was held at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Compound, Sac-angan, Caluttit on December 12, 2024.
The turnover was led by Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., represented by Executive Assistant George Lumiwes, Board Member Ezra Samson A. Gomez, Mountain Province Assistant Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer David I. Sumalag, and Provincial Agriculturist Jane S. Tumapang. Also in attendance were municipal agriculturists from the different towns of the province, Office of the Provincial Agriculture and Biosystems Engineer (OPABE) Head Winston D. Beyden and personnel from the BPI – Rhonda M. Oloan, Erlinda F. Jimenez and Maritez A. Alimurung.
In his message, Lumiwes expressed the governor’s gratitude to the DA for its Christmas gift to the local farmers, which will help boost their productivity, provide a sustainable income and further help in the province’s agriculture development. He said that the provincial government has been and is always supportive of efforts that will improve the livelihood of the local farmers.
Board Member Gomez was joined by Tumapang and Sumalag in highlighting the collaboration of the concerned offices and officials from the municipal local government units and the provincial government which led to the successful turnover of agricultural assistance under the DA-RFO-CAR’s High Value Crop Development Program.
The provincial government facilitated the FCAs and the municipal agriculture offices in making their proposals and resolutions, which were approved by their respective chief executives, while the Governor successfully endorsed these proposals to the DA.
Moreover, according to Supervising Agriculturist Cristeta G. Sannadan, the FCAs received multi-cultivators, power sprayers, UV plastic sheets, black nets and foliar fertilizers.
Meanwhile, the FCA representatives expressed their gratitude to the DA, the provincial government, their respective municipal local government units, and the different offices who worked together for the successful implementation of the assistance program.
The recipients were also reminded to properly use and maintain the machines. About this, the OPABE will assist in the operations and oversee the functionality of the equipment. By Hail, MP
