CADLAN, PILI, CAMARINES SUR – On his first visit to the Bicol Region for 2025, President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. graced the Trabaho at Serbisyong Pangkalusugan sa Bagong Pilipinas, a collaborative engagement of four national government agencies – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 5, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 5, Department of Health (DOH) Region 5 and the Department of Agriculture RFO 5. The event was held at the Cam. Sur Capitol Complex this town on March 7, 2025.
The president was joined by DSWD Secretary Rex T. Gatchalian; DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma; DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. was represented by DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla.
On the part of the DA Bicol, a total of P122M – worth interventions consisting of farm machineries, farm inputs, hauling trucks and motorized boats were turned over by Director Tornilla to some 76 farmers cooperatives and associations from Camarines Sur province whose representatives were present during the one-day event.
The Rice Program turned over P14,606,200.00 – worth of interventions consisting of 3 units rice transplanter; 2 grain collectors; 2 floating tillers; 10 walking type tractors; 3 rice transplanters; 6 threshers; 2 reapers; 1 mobile rice mill; 2 4WD tractors; 1,000 bags certified palay seeds and 225 packs bio fertilizer. The Corn Program has given away P26,555,000.00 worth of interventions consisting of 4 units 4-Wheel drive tractor; 2 combine harvesters; 2 hauling trucks; 60 bags yellow corn seeds; and 19,500 cassava stalks.
The Livestock and Poultry Program turned over P66,874,500 worth projects namely: P50M project establishment of slaughterhouse; 4 units animal hauling truck; and 11 modules of chicken layer project under Establishment of Livelihood Opportunities and Viable Enterprise (LOVE) for Agricultural Farming Communities.
Under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) quick response fund, 84 sets under tools, assorted vegetable seeds and farm equipment worth P2,307,186.00 were turned over to seven FCAs.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) turned over 3 units 4WD tractors worth a total of P6,899,949.00 funded under the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund to three FCAs.
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) distributed 400 seedlings of hybrid coconut. The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) turned over 1 hauling truck worth P3.9M. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) distributed 6 motorized fiberglass boats with complete accessories; seaweed farm implements and tilapia farms inputs, with total worth of P730,500.00.
One of the highlights of the event was the Kadiwa ng Pangulo where DA – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division invited 30 exhibitors who displayed various agricultural products at the venue. The National Irrigation Administration also sold 700 bags of 10 kgs pack priced at P29.00 /kilo to the vulnerable sector. Meanwhile, the SARFC of Bula also sold rice at P35.00. The Kadiwa ng Pangulo garnered total sales of P581,336.00 during the one-day event.
Also present were Engr. Joel V. Dator, Deputy Director of PhilMech in Nueva Ecija and heads of DA attached agencies and corporations in the region namely: Engr. Gaudencio M. De Vera, Regional Manager of NIA; Ariel U. Pioquinto, Regional Director of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Atty. Marlon Terado, Regional Manager of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). Also present were OIC Regional Technical Director Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriguez; OIC Chief of Field Operations Division Earl Vincent P. Vegas; OIC Chief of AMAD, Engr. Luisito Baltazar and APCO for Camarines Sur Marcial T. Bustarga. (Lovella P. Guarin – RAFIS 5)
(Photo credits: Raymond Adversario, Hermito Antonio Privaldos and Annielyn Baleza)