Gov. Espino awards P14.35M worth of STIPs to 147 farmers’ groups
CAPITOL NEWS
LINGAYEN —Governor Amado I. Espino III awarded anew some 205 shallow tubewell irrigation projects (STIP) which amounted to P14.35 million to 147 farmers associations from 23 municipalities in the province on November 7 at the Provincial Agriculture Office in Tebag East, Sta. Barbara town.
Along with this, two project interventions under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) were likewise turned-over by the provincial chief executive to two farmers associations: Tugui Grande Fresh Produce Farmers Association based in Bani town and Urdaneta City Organic Farming Rice Corn Vegetable Growers Association.
As stressed by Governor Espino, the STIPs to be distributed to farm groups were sourced out from the provincial government’s share from the 2015 collection of burley and native tobacco excise taxes.
Gov. Espino flashes No. 1 sign with recipients of 205 shallow tubewells amounting to P14.35M. Governor Amado I. Espino III (8th from left) flashes the Number 1 sign together with some members of the 147 farmers associations from 23 municipalities in the province who were the recipients of the 205 shallow tubewell irrigation projects (STIP) awarded by the provincial government on November 7 at the Provincial Agriculture Office in Tebag East, Sta. Barbara town. The STIPs which amounted to P14.35 million was sourced out from the provincial government’s share from the 2015 collection of burley and native tobacco excise taxes. As reported by Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya (6th from left) said the shallow tube wells are expected to irrigate a total of 2,374 hectares of agricultural land with a minimum number of farmers of 3,577 farmers to be served. This is the second release conducted by the present administration in which the first batch of projects were composed of 119 hand tractors or “kuliglig” distributed to the farmers last October 15. Also in photo is Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Liberato Z. Villegas, Jr. (11th from left) who chairs the committee on agriculture. (Photo by Meinard Sadim/RRB)
“Ibinabalik lang po namin sa inyo ito,” the governor said referring to the excise taxes as he added that this is the second batch to receive such projects. The first batch of projects were composed of 119 hand tractors or “kuliglig” distributed to the farmers last October 15.
In expressing his deep concern to the plight of every Pangasinense farmer, Gov. Espino stressed the importance of discipline among the farmers. “Tulungan n’yo po ang inyong sarili, panatilihing malakas ang inyong katawan at mag-aral po sana kayo,” he said even as he pointed out that the national government through the Agriculture department is willing to assist in terms of funding their projects with the counterpart shares coming from the excise taxes and the provincial government budget, as well.
It can be recalled that the STIP was launched by then governor and now 5th district Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr. which is being continued by the present administration under the stewardship of his son.
“Pinagpapatuloy po natin ang programa at dinadagdagan pa para mas lalong mapalakas ang ating agrikultura,” Gov. Espino said further urging the farmers to join hands with the provincial government towards the attainment of its mission to make Pangasinan truly No. 1 which is now being realized as more awards and citations were accorded to the province notably the Hall of Fame Awards on rice and corn productions.
The governor announced that the province is set to receive its Hall of Fame Awards on Corn Production on November 15 in Davao City, noting that the cash incentive of P5 million that will be given to the province will be cascaded to the farmers specifically for STIP funding.
Meanwhile, Erlinda Manipon, regional technical director for research and development of the Department of Agriculture, said that PRDP is a special project of the national government which is funded by the World Bank. Thus, she added that the internationally-funded project which will run until year 2022 requires world-class international standard.
Manipon commended the province of Pangasinan for having the biggest share of enterprise development projects in the entire region with a corresponding share of 47% which amounts to over P59 million.
As such, Manipon said the approved amount of project fund for Tugui Grande Fresh Produce Farmers Association is more than P7 million while Urdaneta City Organic Farming Rice Corn Vegetable Growers Association amounted to P4.79 million.
Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya, on the other hand, urged the various farmers groups to coordinate and seek support from their respective municipal/city agriculturists as regards preparations of PRDP project proposals.
Recipients of the 205 shallow tube well projects came from the following municipalities/cities: Mangatarem, Bayambang, Malasiqui, Mapandan, Sta. Barbara, San Carlos City, Manaoag, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, San Fabian, Alcala, Bautista, Binalonan, Laoac, Sto. Tomas, Urdaneta City, Villasis, Asingan, Balungao, Rosales, Sta. Maria, Tayug and Umingan.
Moya reported that the 205 shallow tube wells are expected to irrigate a total of 2,374 hectares of agricultural land with a minimum number of farmers of 3,577 farmers to be served.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Liberato Z. Villegas who chairs the agriculture committee also joined the governor during the event. (Ruby R. Bernardino)
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