Dalaguete farmers receive P3.7 million worth  of agri tools

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Agriculture-7 recently gave P3.7 million worth of agricultural projects to six farmer associations of the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture Village (AMIA Village) in Mantalongon, Dalaguete, known as the vegetable basket of Cebu.

Dr. Fabio Enriquez, DA-7’s Research Division chief, also the AMIA and BP2 regional focal, turned over the six units composting facility and five units shredders with an amount of P2.4 million and P1.07 million, respectively, to the beneficiaries.

These associations were the Mantalongon Irrigators Association (MIA), Kapunungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Sigpit (KAMSI), Mag-uuma sa Mantalongon nga Nagpakabana (MAMANA), Suwa Mantalongon Farmers’ Association (SUMAFA), Lahug Mantalongon Farmers’ Association (LAMFA), and Grandcina Vegetable Farmer Irrigators’ Association (GVFIA).

Enriquez, in his message during the turnover, said Mantalongon is one of the eight AMIA villages established in the region.

He expressed hope that the farmer-members of the AMIA will apply the climate-resilient technologies, as well as to make use and take good care of the composting facility and the shredders.

Mantalongon, he said, was identified as an AMIA site due to its vulnerability to landslide, soil erosion, drought and other climate-related risks and hazards.

The said projects were funded under DA’s Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (DA-BP2).

Executive Order No. 114 signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in May 2022 has urged for the institutionalization of the program to provide “equal opportunities and adequate social services” for the beneficiaries in their home provinces.

Senator Lawrence Christopher “Bong” Go, the proponent of said program, has called on the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to continue the government’s commitment to foster regional development through the program in order to benefit those who were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. — GMR (FREEMAN)