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“Farmers and fisherfolk are our heroes!”

This was the message of Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa during the Department of Agriculture Region IV-CALABARZON’s celebration of the Farmer’s and Fisherfolk’s Month 2020 with the theme, “Pagpupugay sa Magsasaka’t Mangingisda Natin, Tungo sa Sapat na Pagkain,” held on May 26, 2020, at Lipa Agricultural Research and Experiment Station (LARES) in Batangas.

To celebrate the significant event, the regional office conducted planting activities; showcased Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra COVID-19 Program which includes the Rice Resiliency Project, Expanded KADIWA ni Ani at Kita, and Urban Gardening Project; and awarded and distributed various agricultural interventions to farmer-beneficiaries.

According to Regional Director de Mesa, the DA CALABARZON team continually ensures that interventions that will be delivered to the farmers are responsive to the current situation, immediate, and sustainable.

On this note, Director de Mesa announced that the DA CALABARZON’s main office will be transferred from Quezon City to LARES, in Lipa City starting July 1, 2020 bringing the services and programs of the Department much closer to the farmers and other stakeholders in the region.

The celebration activity was conducted simultaneously in all provinces in CALABARZON through Research and Experiment Stations, Agricultural Program Coordinating Offices of DA CALABARZON, and also across the country through DA Central Office and other regional offices.

Joining the celebration were some farmers groups’ representatives, Mayor Eric Africa of Lipa City, Provincial Administrator Levi Dimaunahan of Batangas, and officials of DA CALABARZON and DA attached agencies in the region.

The significant role of our farmers and fisherfolk in food security and the economy cannot be denied, especially in times of crisis.

Simply put, if they stop working, food and raw materials will be scarce, many industries will be detrimentally affected, people will panic, then there will be chaos.

Our farmers and fisherfolk continue to produce and deliver foods on our tables amidst typhoons, El Niño, volcanic eruption, and pandemic.

Our farmers and fisherfolk support many industries and jobs since they are the original source of the raw materials used by the latter.

Our farmers and fisherfolk are our heroes!

So, today when you eat, thank, pray, and give more support for our farmers and fisherfolk. ● (RFL, DA-RAFIS)