DA hands out P1.27-B aid in Zamboanga del Sur

The government unveiled the subsidized rice program, its flagship food security program, in Zamboanga del Sur and distributed P1.27 billion in agricultural assistance.

Pagadian City is now part of the P20-per-kilogram rice program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which sells cheaper rice to select beneficiaries.

Launched in May, the agency now plans to include bus and taxi drivers in the program within about two weeks, followed by training for teaching and non-teaching personnel by Oct. 15.

“We’ll try to do it as soon as possible but just give us a little time. It’s more complicated. It’s easier to [cascade the program]to Toda (tricycle operators and drivers association) because there’s already a list with the LGUs (local government units) and it’s nationwide),” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said during the initiative’s launch for the transport sector on Tuesday.

While the list is being finalized with the Department of Education, Tiu Laurel said the rollout in schools may take longer since they have around 800,000 personnel nationwide.

The P20/kg is also offered to vulnerable groups such as solo parents, senior citizens, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries and persons with disabilities, along with minimum wage earners, rice farmers and fishers.

Meanwhile, the government announced major projects for Zamboanga del Sur.

The DA said the construction of the P803-million farm-to-market (FMR) roads and P67.6 million worth of cacao processing and marketing enterprise projects are underway.

Some P195 million in FMR projects have been completed, along with P6.4 million in livelihood interventions for Dumingag and Lakewood towns.

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PhilMech facilities

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) handed over P46.7-million Integrated White Copra Drying and Coconut Oil Processing Facility to Ramon Magsaysay town and tractors, single-pass mills, harvesters and other equipment amounting to P82.8 million.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is also committed to providing P26.6 million in support for seaweed farmers, including a warehouse and drying facility, 600 farm implement sets and five deep-sea nursery modules with boats and fishing paraphernalia.

Through the DA’s regional office, P23 million in unconditional cash assistance was given to 3,258 rice farmers through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which seeks to boost farmers’ income and competitiveness through programs funded by tariff collection from rice imports.

To help revitalize swine production, the DA’s Agricultural Training Institute rolled out the P9-million Swine Industry Recovery Project in Pagadian, Tukuran, Midsalip and Sominot.