Sec. Piñol awards P81M's palay, corn seeds to P'sinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The province of Pangasinan received P81.6 million worth of agricultural assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the rehabilitation program for both agriculture and fishery industries badly damaged by tropical storm “Inday” and tropical depression “Josie.”

Leading the awarding of the initial Rehabilitation Assistance in Agriculture at the Sison Auditorium on July 26, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol assured that the national government is expediting recovery efforts.

The Canadian made military Bell 412EP helicopter that accompanied Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol's Raven II chopper when he and his staff made an ocular inspection last Thursday of the provinces of Bulacan, Tarlac, and Pangasinan that were badly damaged by two tropical storms and unabated monsoon rains that flooded the areas.

Over P81 million worth of hybrid palay seeds (12,000 bags), certified palay seeds (20,000 bags) and hybrid corn seeds (100 bags) was awarded to the province of Pangasinan which will be granted to various farmer organizations of the 32,000-hectare affected farmland due to the incessant rains in Pangasinan.

Sec. Piñol also disclosed some of the ongoing loan assistance programs of the department, such as, the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program through its Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).

Sec. Piñol added that through the SURE program which offers loan grant of at least 5,000 to 25,000 pesos with no interest charge, small farmers and fisherfolk whose livelihood was affected by the calamity will be provided immediate relief and regain their capacity to earn a living.

Meanwhile, the DA secretary also pledged to donate fifty units of boats to various fisherfolk associations in the province.

Although the extent of damage of the flooding may appear daunting, this will not affect the national production of rice. “The rain came when the rice is still at the vegetative level,” he added stating that farmers can still make it on the harvest season.

Governor Amado I. Espino, III, on the other hand, commended the quick response of the DA to bring hope to the victims of the calamity.

“Ito pong pagdating ninyo dito kasama ang mga regional directors at departments ay nagbibigay po ng ligaya at pag-asa sa mga kababayan po natin na sa mga magsasaka sa buong probinsya ng Pangasinan,” said Governor Espino who also extended gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte.

In his message, the provincial chief executive shared the impact of the flooding, specifically in the First, Second, Third, Fourth, some parts of the Fifth district and Dagupan City as he vowed the provincial government’s support for the fast rehabilitation of the province.

“Buong suporta po na binibigay ng provincial government ang kanyang makakaya upang makabawi, makabangon ang mga naapektuhan na mga kababayan natin,” Governor Espino added.

Also present during the dialogue meeting were: DA Regional Field Office 1 Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr., Pangasinan Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, and some provincial government department heads led by Provincial Administrator Nimrod S. Camba.

/Shiella Mae C. De Guzman