Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON delivered agricultural interventions worth P823,999 to farmers’ associations in San Luis, Batangas, whose livelihoods were adversely affected by the recent tropical depression and typhoons, on October 29, 2020.

The farmers’ groups that benefitted from the intervention are the San Luis Vegetable Farmers’ Association, which received five knapsack sprayers, five plastic drums, and five kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds; the San Luis Mango Growers’ Association, which received one power sprayer unit; the San Luis Organic Farmers’ Association, which provided one knapsack sprayer; and the Banoyo Farmers’ Association, which received one mechanical sheller. In addition to these farm implements, 200 bags of complete fertilizers were also given to San Luis corn and cassava farmers, while five heads of carabao were granted to different livestock farmers.

Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa graced the distribution and expressed his appreciation to San Luis farmers for their hard work and resilience despite the adversaries they face, including African swine fever (ASF), the Taal Volcanic eruption, typhoons, and the current pandemic.

“On behalf of Agriculture Secretary William Dar, I would like to thank each and every farmer in San Luis for continually bringing us quality produce despite all the problems you have to go through. These interventions will not be the end of our support for your community. In fact, I have already requested additional funds to help farmers in the region affected by ASF and typhoons under the Quick Response Fund. Let us work hand-in-hand together with DA so that we can rise above all the challenges and achieve food sufficiency not just in Batangas, but throughout the region,” Director de Mesa said.

During his message, Director de Mesa also announced a trading post worth P50 million that will be constructed next year for San Luis vegetable farmers. He also pledged to deliver the San Luis Vegetable Farmers’ Association with an additional delivery vehicle to help with their deliverables.

Congressman Raneo E. Abu, House Deputy Speaker and Batangas 2nd District Representative, thanked Director de Mesa for always helping his district, particularly San Luis and its farmers, especially now in times of severe weather disturbances and the pandemic. He shared his experience as a farmer and expressed how much work a farmer had to do in a day just to provide us with the food that we need.

“I am very proud to announce that until this day, the municipality of San Luis lives up to its name as the vegetable capital of Batangas. This achievement is not only due to the support of the government to farmers, but mainly because of the hard work and perseverance of San Luis farmers to achieve sufficient food supply in the province and nearby areas such as Metro Manila and other regions. The government will always be here to support you and move with you towards more progressive farming in San Luis,” Cong. Abu said.

Municipal Agriculturist Mr. Rinkoh Hernandez expressed his gratitude to all those present at the event, especially Director de Mesa and his team from DA, as well the farmers who will benefit from the interventions from the regional office.

“Every farmer in San Luis feels the support of DA. Let us embrace these interventions and work our way towards materializing all these inputs, machinery, and equipment. Let us continue our hard work so that we can continue to receive help from the Department,” Mr. Hernandez said.

Ms. Marites Mendoza, one of the rice farmers who benefitted from the regional office’s intervention, expressed her utmost appreciation to DA’s continued support to typhoon-affected farmers in San Luis.

“Taos puso po ang aking pasasalamat sa tulong na ibinigay sa amin ng Kagawaran. Sa tulong po nito ay makakabangon kaming muli matapos kaming salantahin ng mga nagdaang bagyo,” Ms. Mendoza said.

The regional office will continue to distribute necessary interventions for typhoon-affected farmers not just in Batangas, but throughout the region. (MAP, DA-RAFIS)