Gov. Guico to Aid Farmers, Fishermen

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The provincial legislature on its regular session recently approved a resolution giving authority to Governor Ramon V. Guico III to execute a Deed of Donation in favor of some farmers and fishermen’s associations and cooperatives as beneficiaries of the identified projects funded under the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP).

Those beneficiaries with their corresponding projects are: Tugui Grande Fresh Produce Farmers Association in Bani (Salad Tomato Contract Farming and Support Service Facility Enterprise); Integrated Small Fishpond Owners and Lessees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ISFOL-MPC), Binmaley (Production and Marketing of Processed Bangus Enterprise); Urdaneta City Organic Farming Rice Corn Vegetable Growers Association (Fresh Tomato Consolodation and Trading Enterprise); Alcala Onion Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperatives (Yellow Granex Production Consolidation and Trading Enterprise); and, Bolo Bongalon Magsaysay Dulig San Gonzalo Agrarian Reform Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BOMADUC ARC-MPC).

Authored by lawmaker Nicholi Jan Louie Q. Sison, the resolution said the donations to the five associations and cooperatives by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan (PGP) could directly benefit the beneficiaries by way of increasing their rural incomes and enhancing farm and fishery productivity.

“The Provincial Government of Pangasinan has been constantly championing the farmers and fisherfolks’ associations of the province through its participation in the implementation of the projects funded under the Philippine Development Program of the Department of Agriculture,” the resolution cited.

PRDP is designed as an Adaptable Loan Program (ALP) jointly funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), the national government, and the Local Government Unit (LGU) beneficiaries.

As such, “the provincial government intends to donate or provide building structures, agricultural vehicles and equipment, and other necessary facilities that will improve their production and raise incomes,” the resolution stated.

PRDP is a poverty-reduction and agri-fisheries development program of the agriculture department in partnership with LGUs that intends to strengthen the agriculture sector through the establishment of needed rural infrastructure and other livelihood community projects. (Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)