Camotes towns receive infra, agri inputs from DA

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Agriculture 7 has recently turned over a total of P16.7 million worth of agricultural inputs and infrastructure to the four municipalities of Camotes Island.

The DA-7 turned over the 450 meters farm-to-market road worth P13 million connecting Barangay Eastern Poblacion to Barangay Altavista in the municipality of Poro.

The Mercedes Farmers Association in Poro also received farm machineries including the P300,000 worth mechanical corn sheller with dehusker while the local government of Pilar received a Drip Irrigation System worth P200,000.

An egg incubator with hatchery worth P500,000 was also turned over for the farmers in the municipality of Poro.

The rest of the project were agricultural inputs such as assorted vegetable seeds, garden tools, corn seeds, planting materials and fertilizers in support of the Gulayan sa Barangay under the banner of the SUGBUsog Program of the Cebu provincial government that aims to enhance production in the countryside.

The department also distributed a total of 600 packs of fresh assorted vegetables as DA's contribution to the community pantry of the four municipalities of the island.

DA-7 regional director Salvador Diputado said in a statement that this distribution of goods in the community pantry and the turned over of projects and inputs is DA-7’s response to the call of Agriculture Secretary William Dar to share food to the needy through the community pantries and to enhance food production in the rural areas.

Diputado added that Dar has committed to fully support Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s food production initiatives in Cebu Province as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that the ONE DA family in Central Visayas such as Philippine Coconut Authority, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority and Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., among others also joined the caravan.

During the caravan, BFAR-7 had given a total of P641,579 worth of fishing boats and gear while the Department of Social Welfare and Development 7 distributed around P20 million to almost 8,000 beneficiaries of the agency's social amelioration assistance in the island. —  GMR (FREEMAN)