PBBM reaffirms commitment to boost agriculture sector

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

PILI, Camarines Sur --- Addressing an audience of some 3,500 agrarian beneficiaries, fisherfolk, government employees, and government officials, President Marcos Jr. renewed his commitment to revitalize the country’s agricultural sector.

“Naniniwala ako sa potensyal nitong baguhin ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino, kaya naman po ay ilang beses ko nang nabanggit na kailangan talaga nating tutukan ang [pagpapalago] ng inyong sektor,” the President said.

The Chief Executive also assured those who received their respective CLOAs that they are not obliged to pay their yearly amortization under Republic Act 11953, or an act emancipating agrarian reform beneficiaries from financial burden by condoning all their principal loans and other financial obligations.

“Sa bisa ng RA 11953, hindi na ninyo kakailanganing magbayad ng taunang amortisasyon sa lupang inyong natanggap mula sa pamahalaan. Sa halipm tutulungan pa naming kayo na maging malusog ang inyong mga lupa at de-kalidad ang inyong ani,’ the president said.

Aside from the distribution of CLOAs to the farmer beneficiaries, the president also utilized the combined programs of government agencies through the whole-of-nation approach.

Ten beneficiaries from Camarines Sur and another 10 from Camarines Norte received P10,000.00 each from PBBM under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families program.

PBBM handed over a P50 million check to Camarines Sur Governor Vincenzo Renato R. Villafuerte and a P10.28 million check to Camarines Norte Governor Ricarte R. Padilla. The said amount will be used to enhance and strengthen agricultural programs in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

To complement the growing need for more infrastructure, the president assured the Bicolanos of the on-going development of road networks that would open avenues for economic growth. One of these projects is the Camarines Sur Expressway and the Pasacao-Balatan coastal road.

He added that the new Naga Airport Development Project is next in the pipeline.

Bicolanos receive wide-ranging government assistance

The Department of Agriculture (DA), under its various agricultural programs, also distributed other services to its beneficiaries. A total of 300 bags of hybrid rice seeds and 39,711 hectares of Fertilizer Discount Vouchers (FDV) amounting to P135,017,400 were handed over to the farmers under its rice program.

Additionally, the DA’s Corn and Cassava program provided rootcrop planters with two (2) cassava granulators, four open-source pumping sets, 60 bags of yellow corn seeds, and 42 bags of inorganic fertilizers, while 10 packages of Gulayan sa Barangay, with a total value of P649,250, were distributed to the farmers through the department’s High Value Crops Development Program.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)-Bicol also distributed 30 bags of 20 kg of certified inbred rice seeds, while the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) also handed over three four-wheel drive tractors to select beneficiaries.

Farmer organizations in Camarines Sur also received two rapid nursery propagation projects for high-yielding varieties of sugarcane worth P170,000 from the Sugar Regulatory Authority and one agri-negosyo program amounting to P10,000.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) awarded 58 bottom-set gills and three 18-footer fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) boats with a 7.5-HP gasoline engine, complete with accessories, to Camarines Sur fisherfolk and 30,000 bangus fingerlings for various beneficiaries from Camarines Norte.

A cash assistance worth P828,000 was handed over by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to 276 Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita, or AKAP, beneficiaries.

As an added livelihood source, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) distributed 106 three-wheeled passenger bikes, or padyak, worth P79,000 in cash payouts to 21 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) beneficiaries.

Camarines Sur Governor Luigi Villafuerte expressed his gratitude for the commitment of PBBM to continuously extend assistance to the farmers and fishermen of Camarines Sur.

“The unwavering determination to fulfill his father’s promise to landless farmers stands as a testament to the utmost commitment to serve the Filipino people, particularly the marginalized and agricultural sectors,” the governor said. (PIA 5/ Camarines Sur)