ROSALES—Former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani once described Pangasinan as a “sleeping giant”.

Now Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has reiterated that remark and called on the province, particularly the agriculture sector, to stop wasting its time slumbering and snoring in dreamland.

Speaking during the opening of the eight-day Agricultural Exposition 2008 in barangay Carmen East here, Yap said although Pangasinan is the biggest province in Region 1, it lags far behind other provinces in rice, corn and vegetable production.

Yap affirmed that Pangasinan can supply some of the food requirements of various parts of the country if only its potentials in agriculture are maximized.

Pangasinan has been listed as part of the five super regions in the country from which the country may get its food supply.

Yap, addressing farmers from Pangasinan and other parts of the Ilocos Region, said even rainfed areas must now be tapped to the fullest because of the looming food crises, not only in the Philippines but the whole world.

Anticipating the impending food shortage, the current administration has put agricultural production among the top priorities for development.

Yap noted that last year, global agriculture output grew by only less than one per cent, much lower than in 2006, which means that most countries failed to meet their targets.

Yap blamed the under-production on the continuing increase in the price of oil, fertilizer and transportation as well as climate change.

He said in the drive to achieve food security, the role of Pangasinan cannot be under-estimated.

Yap also stressed that agriculture is the responsibility mainly of the local government with the national government merely providing support and direction.

Yap hailed the administration of Governor Amado Espino Jr. for setting aside more than P100 million for agriculture.

Noting that Espino is pro-agriculture, Yap announced that the Department of Agriculture is making available a flat-bed dryer for rice and corn farmers in the town of Sison and soon in the other rice and corn producing towns of the province.

During the agri-exposition, sponsored by partylist Abono founded by Engr. Rosaendo So, Yap turned over two tractors to two farmer cooperatives, namely the San Gabriel II Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperatives in Bayambang and the Pangasinan Fertilizer Dealers Multi-Purpose Cooperative based in Rosales.

Bayambang and Rosales, meanwhile, are slated to each receive a 200-ton capacity central corn dryer, each costing P50 million, from the National Agri-Business Corporation headed by Allan Javellana.

To spur vegetable production, Yap advised the provincial government to cluster towns into zones so that they will not plant the same kind of vegetables all at the same time.

Pangasinan may supply the needs of Metro Manila for 20,000 metric tons of ampalaya, 98,000 metric tons of eggplants and 10 million kilos of tomatoes, including the off-season crop.

DA is also set to put up “bagsakan” centers in Sison, Asingan and Sual to serve farmers in clustered towns.

Yap noted that Pangasinan scores highly in fish production because of its long coastline and fishponds.

The DA is ready to put up slaughterhouses in Pangasinan but he wants the mayors to identify to him first where the supply of hogs to be slaughtered are.

He called on Pangasinan hog producers not to bring live hogs to Metro Manila any more.—LM

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