SAN FELIPE, Zambales – Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane of the Second District of Zambales hailed the approval by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala of some P60-million worth of agriculture facilities and equipment for various towns of Zambales.
Secretary Alcala, who met with farmers and fishermen in separate forums here and in Botolan town on March 22-23, approved projects like the Salaza-San Lorenzo Communal Irrigation Project (CIP).
It will irrigate 136 hectares of farmlands in the adjacent towns of Masinloc and Palauig, and the Paete-Balincaguing CIP which will irrigate 100 hectares in San Narciso.
Gov. Ebdane said that Alcala’s commitment to improve the lot of local farmers “dovetails with our efforts to introduce modern farming techniques, provide more farm inputs for sustainable yield, and attract more residents to farming and fishing industries.”
Alcala’s visit to Zambales is part of his tour to different agriculture-based provinces in the country to personally see the needs and requirements of farmers and study how the industry could get a much-needed boost.
The secretary also sat down with Ebdane and other local officials, setting a timetable for a larger agriculture forum in the province that would “integrate and fine-tune the master development roadmap” that his department has drafted.
Dr. Rene Mendoza, Zambales provincial agriculture officer, said that Alcala’s concern for local farmers is a welcome change to the industry, which has suffered from lack of funds. He said some of the pending agriculture projects in the province have been proposed as far back as 1996.
“We are glad that they are finally getting attention and that eight have been approved. This augurs well with the program of Gov. Ebdane to hasten the development of farming and fishing in the province,” Mendoza said.
In the agri-forum held in this town, Gov. Ebdane encouraged local farmers and fishermen to present their detailed proposals to Sec. Alcala, but reminded them to prioritize projects that are really importance and those that can be immediately granted by Department of Agriculture.
“We can pitch in for the rest of your needs, as agriculture is a priority program of the provincial government, and we can also source funds from the office of Congressman Ebdane,” the governor added.
He also noted that the increase in the national agriculture budget from P21 billion last year to P61 billion this year “indicates the Aquino administration’s commitment to develop the countryside and uplift marginalized sectors in the society.”
Rep. Ebdane, meanwhile, urged farmers to take advantage of existing government programs that are geared towards modernizing farming and increasing farmers’ skills and use of technology, including organic farming.
In his visit, Alcala also confirmed the approval of the P2-million Naglabusan Pump Irrigation Project (PIP) in San Marcelino, which was requested through the office of Cong. Mitos Magsaysay; and five others requested through the office of the late Cong. Antonio Diaz.
The latter includes the P7.5-million East Dirita CIP in San Antonio; the P2.6 million Lipay-Cabatuan PIP in Iba; the P6.6 million Libertador PIP in Candelaria; the P2.6-miilion Marangla Communal Irrigation System (CIS) also in Iba; and the P6.6-million Grullo CIP in San Narciso.
Alcala also announced that his office will provide equipment for different farmers and fishers groups in Zambales.
These include two shallow payaos; one Briggs and Straton motor for patrol boat; one communal crab hatchery; two multi-purpose solar dryers; one palay thresher; three shallow tube-wells; and three hand tractors with shredder.
