Legazpi city: The Department of Agriculture in Bicol (DA-5) has disbursed PHP30.18 million in support to farmers’ groups across the six provinces of Bicol as part of the Handog Pangulo Serbiyong Sapat para sa Lahat initiative conducted on September 13.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lovella Guarin, the DA-5 spokesperson, announced on Monday that the Kadiwa ng Pangulo event, which featured exhibitors from various government agencies within these provinces, amassed PHP1.6 million in sales, with 3,000 Bicolanos purchasing a total of 10 kilograms of Benteng Bigas Meron Na! Additionally, on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s birthday, 600 bags of NFA rice, valued at PHP600,000, were sold throughout the region.
In Albay, eight farmer groups received PHP2.73 million in assistance, consisting of a cacao nursery project, 144 units of garden tools, 10,000 grafted pili seedlings, 20,000 kilos of organic fertilizer, and 12 stingless bee colonies. Camarines Norte saw 14 farmer groups benefiting from PHP3.99 million, which included 976 bags of inorganic fertilizer, two cacao nursery projects, 2,500 grafted pili seedlings, and 5,000 bags of organic fertilizer.
Guarin reported that Camarines Sur was allocated PHP13.15 million, with PHP7 million earmarked as Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) for 1,002 rice farmers who each received PHP7,000. Furthermore, PHP6.14 million was distributed to 20 farmer groups, including 12 stingless bee colonies, 6,000 grafted pili seedlings, 12,000 kilos of organic fertilizer, three cacao nursery projects, and one indoor cultivation system valued at PHP2.8 million.
In Catanduanes, 11 farmer groups received PHP2.98 million in support, featuring a solar-powered irrigation system, a vermicomposting shed, 12 stingless bee colonies, grass cutters, a vermi tea brewer, a feed pelletizer, and a multi-tilling machine. Masbate had six farmer groups receiving a total of PHP4.68 million, which covered a combine harvester for corn, two corn husker shellers, a walking-type agricultural tractor, a vermi tea brewer, and a cacao nursery project.
In Sorsogon, the total intervention for two farmer groups, along with Rice Farmers Financial Assistance for 375 rice farmers, amounted to PHP5.43 million. Additionally, over 10,000 agricultural reading materials were distributed among the regions.