PRESIDENT Gloria Arroyo last week visited two municipalities in Zamboanga del Sur to meet farmers, indigenous peoples and peasant women and see for herself the success of the government’s agri-business programs in the region.
Arroyo’s visit to Josefina and Mahayag last Oct. 9, actually, was her third time in Zambosur for this year, as she wanted to inspect the agricultural development programs at the community level.
Her first stop in the morning was in Pagadian where she led the simple program inaugurating the newly extended city airport.
She then dropped by in Josefina for the “Common Tao” Day, which was spearheaded by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakers Office (PCSO) where medical, dental, and optical services were provided to residents.
Arroyo, assisted by the PCSO team, provided wheelchairs to Cherry Mae Mangubat and Benvinido Dolatorio and another P50,000 to Ruffa Leonardo as medical assistance for her dialysis treatment.
Then the President handed over some medical kits to 14 punong barangays for use in their respective health centers including a symbolic key to an ambulance, which was earlier requested by the municipality.
Meanwhile, a Public Address System worth P50,000 awarded to Brgy. Nopulan for winning the PCSO raffle that day.
The President then set out for Mahayag to join farmers in Lourmah where she headed the forum on climate change and solid waste management at San Isidro Central School.
There, community folks were able to interact with Arroyo and seek intercessions for their problems and common good.
Another activity witnessed by the chief executive is the Milestone Event for rice farmers where the 15th million cavans of palay bought by the National Food Authority (NFA) was highlighted.
Mahayag is considered as the rice granary of the Salug Valley area.
In a symbolic act, Arroyo handed a check worth P62,996 to Felipe Baterna, manager of Upper Salug Daku Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, for the 83 cavans of palay sold to NFA.
Another farmer, Wilfredo Munar, was given a check worth P41,613 for his 40 sacks bough at P17 per kilo.
NFA deputy administrator Pedro Hernando briefed the President that the total 123 cavans of palay bought in Mahayag were part of the 15 million sacks of palay bought by the Arroyo administration under the Pagkain sa Bawat Mesa Laban sa Kahirapan Program.
The event was witnessed by Gov. Aurora Cerilles, Reps. Victory Yu and Antonio Cerilles, Mayor Paulino Fanilag, members of the Provincial Board and town officials.
The President then conducted a personal dialogue with three local farmers and asked them how the projects and programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) improved their productivity. The farmers told Arroyo that the flat-bed dryers, Tulay ng Pangulo and the distribution of certified seeds helped them a lot.
To recall, DA regional executive director Oscar Parawan was able to distribute last year 156 units of flatbed dryers in the whole of Zamboanga Peninsula. Another 30 units will be installed before this year ends.
A flatbed dryer is a post-harvest facility which uses rice hulls and corn cobs as fuels.
REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, DA-RAFID 9 WITH REPORTS FROM SARAH JANE TUMALA AND KIMBERLY AMOR, PGO-PPB
Arroyo’s visit to Josefina and Mahayag last Oct. 9, actually, was her third time in Zambosur for this year, as she wanted to inspect the agricultural development programs at the community level.
Her first stop in the morning was in Pagadian where she led the simple program inaugurating the newly extended city airport.
She then dropped by in Josefina for the “Common Tao” Day, which was spearheaded by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakers Office (PCSO) where medical, dental, and optical services were provided to residents.
Arroyo, assisted by the PCSO team, provided wheelchairs to Cherry Mae Mangubat and Benvinido Dolatorio and another P50,000 to Ruffa Leonardo as medical assistance for her dialysis treatment.
Then the President handed over some medical kits to 14 punong barangays for use in their respective health centers including a symbolic key to an ambulance, which was earlier requested by the municipality.
Meanwhile, a Public Address System worth P50,000 awarded to Brgy. Nopulan for winning the PCSO raffle that day.
The President then set out for Mahayag to join farmers in Lourmah where she headed the forum on climate change and solid waste management at San Isidro Central School.
There, community folks were able to interact with Arroyo and seek intercessions for their problems and common good.
Another activity witnessed by the chief executive is the Milestone Event for rice farmers where the 15th million cavans of palay bought by the National Food Authority (NFA) was highlighted.
Mahayag is considered as the rice granary of the Salug Valley area.
In a symbolic act, Arroyo handed a check worth P62,996 to Felipe Baterna, manager of Upper Salug Daku Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, for the 83 cavans of palay sold to NFA.
Another farmer, Wilfredo Munar, was given a check worth P41,613 for his 40 sacks bough at P17 per kilo.
NFA deputy administrator Pedro Hernando briefed the President that the total 123 cavans of palay bought in Mahayag were part of the 15 million sacks of palay bought by the Arroyo administration under the Pagkain sa Bawat Mesa Laban sa Kahirapan Program.
The event was witnessed by Gov. Aurora Cerilles, Reps. Victory Yu and Antonio Cerilles, Mayor Paulino Fanilag, members of the Provincial Board and town officials.
The President then conducted a personal dialogue with three local farmers and asked them how the projects and programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) improved their productivity. The farmers told Arroyo that the flat-bed dryers, Tulay ng Pangulo and the distribution of certified seeds helped them a lot.
To recall, DA regional executive director Oscar Parawan was able to distribute last year 156 units of flatbed dryers in the whole of Zamboanga Peninsula. Another 30 units will be installed before this year ends.
A flatbed dryer is a post-harvest facility which uses rice hulls and corn cobs as fuels.
REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, DA-RAFID 9 WITH REPORTS FROM SARAH JANE TUMALA AND KIMBERLY AMOR, PGO-PPB