VIRAC, CATANDUANES – DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla led the distribution of a total of P 9.7M worth of interventions under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) including Fertilizer Discount Vouchers to the farmers affected by typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses.
The Rice Program distributed a total of P7.8M worth of Fertilizer Discount Voucher and interventions under QRF; the Corn and Cassava Program turned over P631,320.00 worth of interventions; P194,185.00 from HVCDP; P997,500 from Livestock and Poultry Program; and P63,000 from Balik Probinsya Program/AMIA.
An initial 100 rice RSBSA-listed rice farmers cultivating 2-hectares and below and have availed of rice seeds from the Rice Program were given Fertilizer Discount Vouchers. For the province of Catanduanes, a total of 951 rice farmers will receive fertilizer discount voucher amounting to P2.99M before December ends.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist as well as all the 11 municipalities received various interventions consisting of 50 bags urea fertilizer, 50 bags zinc sulfate (25 kg/bag), 10 units knapsack sprayer, 100 pcs laminated sacks, 50 packs plant growth enhancer and 24 liters foliar fertilizer from the QRF- Rice Program.
Under the Corn and Cassava Program, the Pandan Cassava Cluster Association received 2 units cassava chipper and 2 units cassava granulator amounting to 631,320.00.
Under the High Value Crops Development Program, Luzviminda Oropesa of Baras, Catanduanes received P65,685.00 worth of interventions consisting of vegetable seeds, 1 roll green net, 1 roll UV plastic film, and 1 unit grass cutter.
Under the Livestock and Poultry Program, 100 heads of goats worth P997,500 were distributed to typhoon-affected farmers in the 11 municipalities.
Meanwhile, the Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa Program turned over incubators to Biong Farmers Association in Gigmoto and Penafrancia Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Association in Viga.
Dr. Mary Grace Rodriguez, Chief of the Field Operations Division said that aside from the aforementioned interventions, the DA has already provided various assistance to the Catanduanes farmers immediately after the successive typhoons ravaged the province in November and December 2020.
The distribution was held at the Catanduanes State University on December 6, 2021. In attendance were Nelia B. Teves, Provincial Agriculturist; Camille Andrea R. Gianan representing Cong. Hector Sanchez; Alma Villanueva, representing TGP Partylist Congressman Jose Bong Teves, Jr.; Lemuel Sortida, representing Governor Joseph C. Cua; PAFC Chair Anita Tassara; Catanduanes State University President Patrick Alain T. Azanza; Earl Vincent P. Vegas, newly designated Rice Program regional coordinator; Dean Medrano, CHUDS Superintendent and Rafael Magallanes, APCO of Catanduanes.
Also present were Municipal Agriculturists who assisted the farmer-beneficiaries.
(Lovella P. Guarin – RAFIS 5 / photo credit: Eduardo Collantes, Jr, and Vincent Emil Pasumbal)
