Lingayen – Outgoing Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. assured farmers of the few provinces in region 1 of his continued support to the agriculture sector when he assumes his post as Pangasinan’s 5th district representative to the 17th Congress. 
Gov. Espino, a farmer himself, has openly stated he is seeking for the chairmanship of the agriculture and food committee of the House of Representatives to extend help to farming communities in the region.
“Let’s make farming a profession,” Gov. Espino urged officials and representatives of the Pambansang Mannalon-Mag-uuma-Magbabaul-Magsasaka ng Pilipinas (P4MP) from region one during the opening program of the 1st Ilokos P4MP Regional Congress held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center on June 15.
The regional congress, supported by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTI), sought to empower farmers to become globally competent in the advent of ASEAN Integration.
Asking farmers to eradicate obsolete and wrong practices in farming, Governor Espino told them that“shifting to adopt modern techniques and technologies of farming also requires change of mindset and attitude.”
As incoming lawmaker, Gov. Espino expressed high hopes to realize the approval and establishment of more irrigation projects in Pangasinan.
He added that about 2,000 more hectares of farm lands in the province will be irrigated once the phase two of the San Roque dam irrigation component project will be completed.
At present, the provincial government oversees the rehabilitation works of 32 irrigation canals and water impounding projects, and construction of 163 shallow tube wells in the province.
In Pangasinan, the Espino administration, plowed the agriculture sector with support programs to increase agricultural productivity, which eventually resulted to various recognitions awarded to the province, the most celebrated is the three-peat and hall of fame Agri Pinoy Rice Achiever’s award.
Meanwhile, OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya lauded the significant roles of farmers during the regional congress, extolling them as “backbone of the country.”
“May this occasion contribute to attain a healthier backbone of the economy,” Moya said.
Owing to the usual support of the local government unit of Pangasinan in various agricultural programs and projects, outgoing P4MP regional president Oftociano Manalo announced that the national congress of the farmers’ organization will be held in Pangasinan this year.
The opening program of the farmers’ regional congress held for the first time was also graced by DA regional technical director Eduardo Gonzales, ATI - RTI superintendent Rogelio Evangelista, Abono partylist vice president Justine Casuga, P4MP President Eugene Ramirez and 4H National President Prince Reinier Domingo.
/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca
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