600 Bulacan farmers and fisherfolk receive aid
OVER 600 farmers and fisherfolk in Bulacan received P35.9 million worth of aid from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Bulacan provincial government.
The aid was given to the farmers and fisherfolk in the form of livelihood assistance, farm and fishery machineries, and facilities on Tuesday, July 12.
Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando said the beneficiaries came from Hagonoy, Malolos City, Obando, Bulacan, Norzagaray, Marilao, Norzagaray, Bocaue and Meycauayan City.
The governor added that among the recipients are members of the Farmer’s Cooperative Association, Bulacan fisherfolk registered with the Fishery Registry System, and the Dumagat fisherfolk.
Meanwhile, DA Region 3 Director Ed Lapuz said that the DA’s mechanization program has distributed various types of machinery and facilities to farmers to boost farm production.
For his part, Vice Gov. Alex Castro said that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will also prioritize the drafting of laws that will benefit the agricultural sector.
The farmers received three units of 4-wheel tractors, three units of combined harvesters, 14 pump engine sets, four warehouses and dryers, and two solar-powered ferti-gation systems.
On the other hand, the vegetable growers received 100 units of knapsack sprayers and 180 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds.
The fisherfolk got 170 rolls of gillnet with accessories, 120 rolls of multi-filament polyethylene net, five marine engines, a smokehouse, three smokehouse packages and five tri-bikes.
The Dumagat fisherfolk received 40 units of portable solar lamps and 40 spear guns.
Fernando also received a certificate of recognition from the DA Regional Field Office 3, recognizing the provincial government’s programs on high-value crops.