FOOD SECURITY. Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco Matugas leads the first leg of the “Pagkaon Surigaonon Palamboon Program” or the Develop the Food Sources from Surigao initiative held in Dapa, Siargao Island on Thursday (Aug. 13, 2020). Officials said the program aims to assess and develop the food resources in the province to ensure food security amid the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of the Surigao del Norte Information Office)
BUTUAN CITY – The provincial government of Surigao del Norte aims to secure enough food supply for its residents amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis, Governor Francisco Matugas has said.
Matugas led the first leg of the implementation of the “Pagkaon Surigaonon Palamboon Program” (PSPP) or Develop the Food Sources from Surigao program held in the town of Dapa in Siargao Island on Thursday.
The second leg of the activity will be held in the mainland, particularly in Surigao City, on Tuesday, said Roberto Parada of the information office of Surigao del Norte.
“The program aims to develop the food sources in the province, particularly the fisheries, livestock, and agriculture sectors,” Parada told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday.
He said nearly 100 participants joined the first leg of the activity in Dapa, including the island's municipal mayors, local agriculture officials, as well as representatives of the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors.
Parada said Matugas also led a discussion among officials on the province's food resources, including food security preparedness, which entails the assessment of the planting, harvesting, and marketing of the province’s produce.
“Siargao Island has the resources in terms of food and these are enough to supply the needs of the residents during this pandemic. The activity, as conceptualized by Governor Matugas, gives emphasis on how these food resources are properly and effectively managed from production to marketing,” he said.
Matugas also led the distribution of vegetable seeds, organic fertilizers, and hybrid rice seeds to municipalities.
In a statement posted in the Facebook account of the Surigao del Norte Information Center, provincial agriculturist Ruby-Ann Lagahit urged local officials and representatives of the livestock and fishery sectors to join the second leg of the activity next week.
Since last year, Surigao del Norte’s agriculture sector has received various support programs and funding from the national government.
During his State of the Province Address (SOPA) in July, Matugas reported that the provincial government continues its partnership with government line agencies to ensure food security in the province.
These partnerships have paved the way for the series of distributions of fertilizers, seeds, facilities, and other farm equipment and the completion of the construction of farm-to-market roads and small-scale irrigation systems in the province, he said. (PNA)
