Camotes Island gets P2.8M assistance from Capitol

CEBU, Philippines - Ronnie Garbe, a farmer from Barangay Santa Cruz, San Francisco in Camotes Island, was among the 500 beneficiaries of the Capitol’s caravan of services, also dubbed “Serbisyo Caravan.”

Garbe, along with other farmers, received water pipes from the provincial government during the third annual Serbisyo Caravan held at the Poro gymnasium yesterday.

“Dako among pasalamat kay naa mi gamit patubig,” said Garbe, president of Santa Cruz farmers association.

The association is producing vegetables, including ampalaya (bitter gourd), okra and sili. It supplies at least 50 kilos of sili a week to Carbon Public Market.

Capitol has likewise turned over P2.8 million worth of financial assistance to the island’s local government units.

The amount is broken down into P1.5 million, Poro town’s riprap and other infrastructure projects; P717,000,  Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP)-small livelihood programs; P314,000, farm equipment and post-harvest machineries; P120,450, agri-planting materials; P195,194, fishing gear; P90,000, medical mission; and 10 units of wheelchairs at P5,000 each.

Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale led the distribution of cash assistance, farming equipment and medicines, among others.

During the caravan, a PWD association in Barangay Esperanza in Poro asked for  a financial assistance to fund its livelihood programs, such as poultry farming.

Leodegario Arcipe, the association's president, said the association only receives P350 a year based on the one percent share of senior citizens and PWDs from the barangay’s internal revenue allotment (IRA).

The association has 27 accredited members.

Arcipe said the meager amount is not enough for the organization to even start a livelihood program.

Esperanza Barangay Captain Dina Rama said her office is just waiting for the association to submit a resolution so she can endorse it to the Office of the Governor for approval. (FREEMAN)