The Province of Ilocos Norte receives a total of ₱ 161.32 million worth of agri-fishery projects during the “Awarding and Distribution of Department of Agriculture (DA) Interventions” at the Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center in Laoag City on April 29, 2022.
Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, along with Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar and other key officials, handed over post-harvest facilities, irrigation network services, and production inputs to various farmers and fishermen’s associations in Ilocos Norte.
Among the beneficiaries of the agri-fishery projects are the towns of Bacarra, Burgos, Pagudpud, Pasuquin, Piddig, Sarrat, Vintar and the City of Laoag in the first district and the towns of Badoc, Banna, Currimao, Dingras, Marcos, Nueva Era, Paoay, Solsona in the second district.
“This is a great honor and a great help to our mannalon (farmers). It is such a pleasure to work with Secretary Dar na madaling kausap, very helpful, and takes a leadership role always. At the same time, siya ay talagang consultative and listens to the needs of our people,” Governor Marcos Manotoc remarked.
₱ 57.29 million from the total project cost is allotted for the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of small water impounding projects, diversion dams, irrigation canals, and the installation of a solar-powered fertigation system.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization gave ₱ 47.4 million worth of projects, and the Agriculture Credit Policy Council provided ₱ 10 million to Banna’s Bagnos Multi-purpose Cooperative and San Nicolas’ Catuguing Multi-purpose Cooperative.
Additionally, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources allocated ₱ 21.1 million to improve and develop the types of fish grown in the province, along with the turn-over of the multi-species hatchery built in Pasuquin town.
The Philippine Rice Research Institute and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, meanwhile, awarded ₱ 483,400 and ₱ 133,556 in projects for palay seed production and rice indemnification project in the province, respectively.
“I reassure na lahat ng mannalon ay tuloy-tuloy naming susuportahan,” Governor Marcos Manotoc pledged.
Furthermore, Secretary Dar stated that the Department has allocated a large fund for Ilocos Norte to help the province’s over 2,000 farmers and fishermen, including rice, corn, and high-value crop growers as well as livestock and organic agriculture producers. (Cita Macalipis)
(Source: Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte – Communications & Media Office)