Farmers and fisherfolk in Negros Occidental who experienced damage and losses from various natural calamities received PHP5.6 million in agricultural inputs, garden tools, and equipment from the provincial government on Thursday.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the turnover ceremony held at the Negros First Organic Technology Center in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, said he hopes the various assistance would be useful as farm work and production are affected by calamities and weather disturbances, such as extreme heat, extreme rainfall, and flooding caused by typhoons, and the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.
“I hope this will help you recover and increase your production,” he added.
Funded under the province’s 5 percent disaster risk reduction and management fund and 20 percent development fund, the project aims to restore agricultural productivity in calamity-affected areas, strengthen farmer organizations, and enhance the operational efficiency of key agricultural facilities.
Beneficiaries of agri-fishery recovery support are five organized associations in Bago City, farmers in Murcia, and rice and fish farmers affected by calamities in La Castellana, Isabela, Moises Padilla, Murcia, Binalbagan, and La Carlota City.
Through the project, they are expected to re-establish crop and fish production, improve household food security, earn additional income through vegetable gardening and fish production, and strengthen disaster reporting and response system.
They received assorted vegetable seeds, as well as assorted planting tools worth PHP879,207, various chemicals and pesticides valued at PHP583,060, and aqua feeds amounting to PHP297,876.
For institutional support, the Federation of Irrigators Association of Central Negros – Bago River Irrigation System, with a project site at its storage facility in Barangay Busay, received one unit of tractor worth PHP1.75 million and one utility vehicle or hauling truck amounting to PHP2.12 million.
“We cannot predict the weather, so we have to be prepared. I want you to know that your provincial government is ready to help you,” Lacson said. (PNA)