SABLAN, Benguet – In celebration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s 67th birthday, the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) facilitated the digitalized distribution of Rice Program Interventions through the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para Sa Lahat in Sablan, Benguet today, September 13, 2024.
A total of 339 rice farmers received their fertilizer and soil ameliorant package coursed through the Intervention Monitoring Card (IMC) modality that is being implemented in line with the digitalization effort of the agency, totaling the intervention to Php1.025 million.
In his message, Sablan mayor Alfredo Dacumos, Jr. expressed his gratitude for the interventions the farmers have received, “We are celebrating the President’s birthday through the assistance being given to us by DA. This is what we are thankful for. We can see that there is a lot of assistance from the government for the benefit of the community. I hope that we may put these interventions to good use,” he said.
The distribution caravan in Sablan was conducted simultaneously with the rest of the region wherein other various agricultural interventions were also distributed, such as fertilizers, mechanical transplanter, multi tiller, power sprayers, knapsack sprayers, dairy cattle, sheep, disinfectants, tiller, vegetable seeds, forage chopper, and financial assistance through the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance.
These interventions amounting to PhP25.34 million were provided to 67 groups, eight provincial veterinary offices, one breeding station, 25 Farmer Cooperatives and Associations, and almost 6,500 individuals under the Rice Program, Livestock Program, High Value Crops Development Program, Organic Agriculture Program, National Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Program, and Special Area for Agricultural Development
In closing, Field Operations Division Chief Beverly Pekas underscored the importance of digitalization of interventions as this will make the process more organized. She also expressed her gratitude to the farmers for their unwavering dedication in feeding the nation, “ The farmers are our everyday heroes, because you are working everyday throughout the day to feed everyone,” she said. By Cy-j E. Waytan
