Agri machineries to farmers

By Kitz Basila

Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan - Alaminos City Mayor Arthur F. Celeste on Thursday thanked the Department of Agriculture for the agricultural machineries that the farm associations in his beloved city and the first district of the province will be receiving from the said agency.

Department of Agriculture & Fisheriers Secretary
 Manny Pinol and Pangasinan Congressman Jesus Celeste

Speaking on behalf of Ist District Representative Jesus ‘BOYING’ F. Celeste at the simple turn-over ceremony for districts one and two recipients held at the DA-Pangasinan Research and Extension Center (PREC) in Sta. Barbara town, Mayor Celeste also lauded the agency for its Farm Mechanization Project (FMP) that aims to further increase productivity while lowering the post harvest losses of the farmers in the countryside.

“This is a wonderful gift from our God Almighty and from our national government. Your farming works will soon be a lot easier and enjoyable and will fully benefit your families,” stressed the chief executive who also cited the DA for closely collaborating with the representatives of the province that includes his brother, Congressman Boying, in the implementation of their noble initiatives for the farmers.

“You are very fortunate for these farm machineries are given out to you for free. This is unprecedented as for the first time, the project is implemented sans the counter-parting scheme,” he told the very ecstatic farmer-recipients.

He then urged the recipients to take good care of the machineries and improve their productivity and trade citing that “this is what you intend to do as our national government and officials have done its respective obligations”.

DA Region 1 Executive Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr. personally distributed the certificates of awards to the recipients. Joining him were PREC Chief Dr. Gilbert Rabara, Asst. Provincial Agriculturist Nestor Batalla, Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council Chairman Vincent Adorna and PAFC Chairman Magdaleno Andreas.

Alviar said the Farm Mechanization Project is in support to their agency’s Rice Program with the goal of helping the farmers increase productivity and income.

Congratulations and God bless all of you, said the Alviar, who also reminded the recipients to love, take care, and properly maintain the full grant that they have received to increase their yield and improve their quality of life.

Among the recipients of one unit mini 4-wheel drive tractor worth P .9M are the Patnubay MPC, Western Pangasinan Seed Growers MPC and Maawi Rural Workers Association of Alaminos City. An additional one unit pump and engine set was also given to Patnubay MPC.

City Agriculturist Arceli Talania said more farmer associations in the city are currently shortlisted by DA-PREC for possible inclusion to the FMP list of recipients this year.