Region 12 gets P1.3 B worth of agri projects
AGRICULTURE • 03:45 AM Sun Aug 2, 2015
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By:
John Unson
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala huddle with representatives of different agricultural and fishery blocs during his tour in Koronadal City last Thursday. (Photo by John Unson)
KORONADAL CITY --- The agriculture department launched here P1.3 billion worth of new projects for peasantcommunities in Central Mindanao as interventions meant to improve agricultural productivity in the region.Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Amalia Jayag-Datukan, director of the Department of Agriculture in Region 12, led the launching on Thursday of the projects and the dispersal of more development packages to different organizations at a local venue.Alcala’s engagement last Thursday with local peasants and fisherfolks was his third since January.The new interventions benefitting the two sectors include a P481 million grant from the Payapa at Masaganang Mamayan (PAMANA) development initiatives and P45.8 million worth of assistance for local government units under the department’s Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) program.Datukan said the projects will be implemented in utmost transparency, with guidance from the Commission on Audit. These projects will improve the productivity of the agriculture and fishery sectors in the region,” Datukan said.Alcala told reporters the projects will complement the Food Staples Self-Sufficiency Program of Malacañang.Alcala held brief dialogues with officials of different farmers and fishery organizations while in Koronadal City.Alcala also facilitated the release to local government units of certificates of availability of funds for the construction of 16 farm-to-market roads worth P336 million.Alcala had also announced, during a gathering of representatives from local peasant communities, the DA’s allocation of additional funds to sustain the implementation in the region of the Agri-Pinoy Rice Program (P49.5 million), the Agri-Pinoy Corn Program (P60.9 million), the Agri-Pinoy High Value Crops Development Program (P11.1 million) and the Agri-Pinoy Livestock Program (P2.2 million).A big number of Region 12 residents engaged in fishery ventures had also been provided with a P152 million worth of assistance in form of gears and equipment packages.