Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON, through all of its banner programs, turned over various agricultural interventions worth P14,508,784 to farmers through their respective local government units in the 1st district of Batangas on September 24, 2020. Interventions include support from the Quick Response Fund for Taal-affected farmers.

The value of the agricultural aid received by each municipality was as follows: P1,339,550 (Balayan), P1,324,150 (Calaca), P864,860 (Calatagan), P2,120,900 (Lemery), P3,156,300 (Lian), P4,143,064 (Nasugbu), P1,270,460 (Taal), and P79,500 (Tuy). An additional P210,000 worth of assistance has also been granted.

In her message, Congresswoman Eileen Ermita-Buhain, the 1st district representative of Batangas, expressed her appreciation for DA’s response to their call to help Taal-affected farmers and livestock raisers in her district who are also significantly affected by the current coronavirus pandemic.

“With the help of the agriculture department, let us unite as we recover from the damages caused by Taal’s eruption and as we conquer this battle against the COVID-19 pandemic…Let us encourage the next generation to continue and follow their agricultural dreams in order to preserve food security in the province in the future,” Cong. Buhain said.

Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa shared his gratitude to Cong. Buhain’s unwavering assistance to the regional office in order to provide more budget for its continued interventions.

“These interventions demonstrate that the government is providing its full support to our farmers. Recently, the national government has approved an additional P24 billion for the agriculture sector allocated for the remaining months of 2020. Therefore, this will not be the last intervention that the 1st district of Batangas will receive this year. We will return with more assistance so that we can achieve food resilience in the province,” Director de Mesa said.

According to him, DA CALABARZON will distribute free certified seeds and fertilizers to rice farmers this dry season and is committed to building solar-powered irrigation systems in Batangas.
“For those who want to move to corn farming, the regional office will provide the necessary support to improve the corn industry, especially the hybrid yellow corn, which is essential for our livestock industry,” the regional director added.

Batangas Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Romelito R. Marasigan said that P14.5 million worth of interventions from DA CALABARZON is a great help to Batangas farmers.
“We have nothing else to say but thanks to the regional office for your never-ending support to our farmers in the province. To our farmers, may you give utmost importance in taking care of these interventions from DA so that they will not get tired of giving us the support we need,” Dr. Marasigan said.

Meanwhile, the provincial agriculturist of Batangas Engr. Pablito A. Balantac commended all the farmers in the province for their resilience and dedication to bringing food to the people’s tables.
The distribution of interventions today includes varieties of seeds, agricultural machinery and equipment, farm supplies, fertilizers, insecticides, and livestock.

All local government units from the 1st district of Batangas will coordinate with the respective farmer-recipients in their areas so that they can get their hands on all these interventions from DA CALABARZON. (MAP, DA-RAFIS)