R1.7-M cash awards to farm groups

PALO, Leyte – The province of Leyte has given more than R1.7 million in cash prizes to farmer organizations during the “Pasidungog” awarding ceremonies Wednesday.

Gov. Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla said the prizes were given to the top 30 of the 210 farmer associations organized and assisted by the province and with a total membership of 5,250 farmers.

Petilla said the province contributed R1,775,000 to the prizes and Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu contributed R100,000.

The first place winner received R250,000, the second R200,000, third R150,000, fourth R100,000, and the fifth R75,000.

The sixth to 10th placers each received R50,000; the 11th to 20th placers R30,000 and the 21st 30th placers R20,000.

The word Pasidungog is a local term that means “to give honor or award or recognize the achievement.”

Petilla said Pasidungog is a way of recognizing or honoring the achievements and contributions of “our farmers who are involved in our poverty reduction and community resiliency efforts under the Leyte EconoMICs Program.

The Leyte EconoMICs Program is a poverty reduction agenda focusing on total human and economic development beginning in poor barangays. It pushes the “More Income in the Countryside” (MIC) compact farming for high-value vegetables and fruit crops training as its point of entry.

He said that with the program implemented in the countryside, more and more farmers are switching to high-value vegetables, egg-laying, tilapia production, hog fattening, vermicomposting, wing oyster project and seaweed farming.