THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) XI recently turned over assistance from the three banner programs and Quick Response Fund to various farmers’ cooperatives and associations in Davao Region.
The ceremony was held during the inauguration of the new office, which was also led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel Tiu Jr. at Bago Oshiro, Tugbok District, Davao City on Jan. 23.
In a statement, Tiu said the new building’s purpose will provide efficient service delivery among the farmers and fisherfolk industry in the region.
“It will serve as a hub where ideas are born, where research and development take place, and where new technologies and practices are devised to improve agricultural productivity,” he said.
The hub will also house the Office of the Regional Executive Director (ORED), as well as its banner programs, special projects, operations, administration and finance, planning, marketing, information technology, research, agricultural engineering, and regulatory divisions.
In the same way, six units of hauling trucks, amounting to P15.54 million from the Corn Program, were given to beneficiaries in six provinces in Davao Region. The livestock program also officially gave 22 units of hauling trucks to 22 FCAs, amounting to P140 million, which aims to increase efficiency, timely delivery, and better storage, with handling of cost-effective agricultural products.
The Quick Response Fund amounting to P28.23 million will be transferred to the provincial local government units of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Davao Oriental for the procurement of stock of animals, feeds, concentrates, animal drugs, and biologics.
Moreover, the Organic Agriculture Livelihood Project amounting to P1,929,870 was also given to two FCAs in Davao City and Davao del Norte. The Participatory Guarantee System Davao Organic Farmers and Advocates Association – Tugbok District, Davao City received P929,870 worth of various interventions while the Braulio E. Dujali Organic Producers and Rural Workers Association – B.E. Dujali, Davao del Norte received a Rice Mill worth P1 million.
The ceremony, also led by DA XI regional executive director Macario D. Gonzaga, RTD for Operations Marie Ann Constantino, and RTD for Research and Regulations Zabdiel Zacarias, was graced by Undersecretary for HVCDP Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero, various government agencies in the region, Farmers Cooperatives and Associations – beneficiaries, agri-fishery council and stakeholders, provincial local government unit leaders and representatives.
Photos by Department of Agriculture XI
