DA-WV delivers over ₱67 Million in agri-interventions to Aklan farmers

In a simultaneous nationwide government aid distribution under the “Handog ng Pangulo, Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” initiative, the Department of Agriculture Western Visayas (DA-WV) took a leading role in supporting vulnerable sectors, particularly farmers and fisherfolk in the province of Aklan. The event, held on September 13, 2024 at the ABL Gym in Kalibo, AKlan, coincided with the 67th birthday of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has made agricultural development a priority of his administration.

DA-WV Field Operations Chief Ryan Rasgo and Agriculture Program Coordination Officer (APCO) Ilyn Belenario spearheaded the distribution of over ₱67 million worth of agricultural interventions in Aklan. The event was a multi-agency effort, joined by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), among others.

“As a technical and science-based service agency, the Department of Agriculture is always available to deliver technical services to our farmers and fisherfolk,” said Rasgo. “The interventions distributed today are part of the allocated budget for Aklan for fiscal year 2024. Through these efforts, we aim to achieve the masaganang agrikultura, maunlad na ekonomiya.”

Three strategic locations in Aklan—Kalibo, Ibajay, and Malay—served as event centers for this simultaneous event. Key interventions were funded through the National Livestock Program and the Rice Program, which aim to improve local production and improve food security.

Under the National Livestock Program, several beneficiaries were granted significant support:
-Aklan Livestock and Poultry Raisers Producers Cooperative received a 30-sow level production farm worth ₱10 million.
-Mangan Farmers’ Association was granted ₱1 million for a Rabbit Multiplier Farm.
-Lezo Multipurpose Cooperative secured ₱10 million for a community-based swine production project.
-Banga Swine and Poultry Raisers Association obtained ₱10 million for a 30-sow production farm.
-LGU Libacao was provided ₱1.5 million for a Cattle Multiplier Farm.
-Libacao Development Cooperative was awarded ₱10 million for the recovery of breeder bases under the INSPIRE project.

The Provincial Veterinary Office of Aklan received three power sprayers valued at ₱157,500.
Additionally, through the Rice Program, the Province of Aklan benefited from 5,042 packs of soil ameliorants, 67 bags of hybrid rice seeds worth ₱2.8 million; and various farm machineries.

In a simultaneous event held in Nueva Ecija to celebrate his birthday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. launched the “Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid” (APP) program, which aims to provide farmers low-interest loans and financial aid. During his address, Marcos expressed his birthday wish for continued improvements in the agricultural sector, emphasizing the need for government initiatives to reach every Filipino farmer. “My birthday wish is that we complete all of these to improve the agriculture sector,” he said, highlighting his administration’s focus on uplifting farmers and their families.###(DA-RAFIS 6) Photos by VNOQuimpo