SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique, Aug. 9 -- Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Pinol distributed PHP47,224,784 worth of farm equipment, fishing boats and other forms of assistance to farmers and fishermen here in Antique province on Wednesday.
Pinol said the assistance is given by the government of President Rodrigo Duterte through the Department of Agricultureto to show that the poor province of Antique has never been forgotten in terms of its delivery of services to the people.
He also said that Antique is lucky to have Antiquena Senator Loren Legarda, now the Finance Committee chairperson, who has in her mind the welfare of the Antiquenos.
Tractors, floating tillers, threshers, pump and engine sets, rainshelter and many others from the DA were distributed to the beneficiaries on Wednesday.
There was also a total worth of PHP4 million composed of 50 fiber glass boats or "Bangka ng Pagbabago" with machines and accessories that were distributed to Anini-y, Hamtic, San Jose, and Belison fishermen.
Two hundred multiple handline and 120 tuna long line were also given to small fisherfolks of Hamtic, Patnongon, Belison, Anini-y, Laua-an, Libertad and Tibiao towns.
The National Irrigation Administration also turned over finished projects worth PHP26,700,000 during the occasion. These are composed of four Small Irrigation Project (SIP) in Laua-an, Libertad, San Remigio, and Valderrama.
A project in Tobias Fornier under the Extension/Expansion of Existing Irrigation Systems and four projects that underwent restoration/repair of existing irrigation system in Bugasong, Culasi, Laua-an, and Valderrama were also turned over.
Meanwhile, a PHP50 million worth of cold storage facility is to be put up in Antique for the farm produce particularly onions and garlic which are harvested in bounty in areas like San Remigio so farmers would be able to command better price.
Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao has earlier discussed with the secretary the need for the cold storage facility.
Pinol also asked Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Remia Aparri to conduct training among fishermen on how to catch tuna considering that Antique is also a tuna highway. (PNA)
