Agri Stakeholders join Handog ng Pangulo services in Negros Occidental

More than a hundred agricultural producers and fisherfolks from various Local Government Units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental gathered for the nationwide initiative “Handog ng Pangulo, Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” which was held at the Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City last Friday, September 13, 2024 in commemoration to the 67th birthday of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Among the agencies involved in the momentous event were the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson commended the different national agencies for consolidating their services for this activity.

“The Department of Agriculture Western Visayas turn over agri-machineries to boost farmers’ productivity and ensure food security while the Department of Labor and Employment for the Tupad Payout benefitting 1.135 beneficiaries; the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for supporting our fisherfolk; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for providing allowance to 700 scholars; and again to the Department of Labor and Employment in partnership with our provincial peso; and the Department of Trade and Industry for organizing a job fair.

He added that the President’s leadership exemplified the true essence of public service for the people of Negros Occidental to emulate.

Department of Agriculture Western Visayas’ Regional Technical Director Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo emphasized the interventions for the farmers of Negros Occidental worth P37.6M farm machineries. “The all-out support of the Department of Agriculture Rice Program to the rice producers of Negros Occidental enables them to increase farm productivity and boost income. For the specific program naton nga ginapanghatag karon amo ang mag seeds naton kag for the livestock program madamo damo man ini ipanghatag.” He stated, highlighting that the interventions itself were to be given to every banner programs during the technical caravan portion of the event.

BFAR 6 Provincial Fisheries Office Marian Jill Abeto highlighted the distribution of post-harvest kits to the fisherfolks of Escalante in order to promote food safety and basic proper fish handling to maintain the quality of our fishes, marine engines to the beneficiaries of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Project in Calatrava thereby minimizing their efforts in fishing, and the distribution of good quality tilapia fingerlings to ensure the continuous supply for the fish farmers.

USEC Atty. Felipe N. Engargo Jr. of DOLE informed the participants that a job fair was being held at the Ayala Malls, which offers 6,619 job vacancies across 16 local and five overseas participating employers. Additionally, DOLE has their Tupad Payout to 773 beneficiaries from various LGUs across Negros Occidental. They are also having a Tupad orientation for 363 beneficiaries who will be paid after ten days of working, amounting to 1,742,400- and for the file services alone, they have released a total of 5,233,920 covering 1,636 beneficiaries.

Niña Connie Dodd of TESDA, also distributed the cash allowance for 705 scholars for the province of Negros Occidental. “Ito pong scholarship allowance na to ginahatag naton sa mga scholars sang TESDA nga nakahibalo sang bag-o nga skills.” ###(Photos and Story: JESCEsmao/DA-RAFIS6)