21,022 farmers benefit from Espino’s water pump project

A TOTAL of 190 units of water pumps have been awarded to 45 irrigators’ associations in the province as of March 18, benefitting some 21,022 farmer members in Eastern, Central and Western Pangasinan covering 10,101 hectares of farmland.

The water pump distribution is part of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s emergency mitigation measures to help farmers mostly affected by the ongoing dry spell.

Last Thursday, 31 units of water pumps were distributed to the Lower Agno River Irrigation System (LARIS) Federation of Irrigators’ Association in Barangay Carmay East, Rosales thru the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG).

The provincial government purchased a total of 500 units of water pumps for the affected farmers supposed to be distributed during the latter part of January and early February, but there have been delays because of the lack of supply in the market.

The remaining 310 water pump units will soon be distributed to irrigators’ associations pending the validation of their respective groups.

“Ito ang pagtugon ng ating Gobernador sa mga hinaing ng ating mga magsasaka na sana ay matulungan sila na magkaroon ng paraan para mapatubigan ang kanilang natutuyuang mga pananim,” Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya said, even as she added that the Governor wanted speedy assistance to affected farmers whose only source of living is their rice fields.

All units of water pumps were given free to the farmers.

Oftociano Manalo, president of both Regional and Provincial Irrigator’s Associations, commended the timely action of the Governor as farmers in Pangasinan, especially those at the tail end of irrigation systems, were hardest hit by the lack of irrigation waters.

“Bilib kami kay Governor dahil inaksyunan niya kaagad yung mga requests naming water pumps,” Manalo said as he lamented the absence of help coming from the national government.

Technical assistance was also given to the beneficiaries on how to maintain the water pumps as the OPAG encouraged them to utilize open water source such as creeks or rivers in irrigating their rice fields in order not to deplete the scarce underground water source which can be used for drinking and domestic purposes.

Romeo Lilagan, Sr., president of LARIS FIA thanked the Governor for heeding their request as he jubilantly exclaimed, “Mahal talaga kami ni Governor, mahal niya talaga ang mga magsasaka sa ating probinsiya.”

Farmers from Balungao affected by the drought get P63,000 worth of financial assistance from Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (4th from left) through the MADILAP Irrigators Association of Brgy. Esmeralda, Balungao last March 17 at the Urduja House, Capitol Compound in Lingayen.  Witnessing the awarding is Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay A. Moya ((2nd from right). (Photo by Cecil “Bong” Laure)

* * * * *

Another round of mangrove planting held in Bolinao

THE provincial government of Pangasinan, spearheaded by the fisheries section of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), conducted another mangrove planting activity at the Bolinao Fish Farm last March 18.

The Bolinao Fish Farm underwent massive upgrading under the administration of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and mangrove seedling propagation has been tasked as one of its primary functions, aside from serving as the province’s Mangrove Information Center.

On Thursday, the group planted 1,300 seedlings of the mangrove species Rhizophora apiculata, also known as Bakawan Lalaki, along the shoreline of the farm to augment the previous seedlings planted in the site to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Mangrove development is one of the main activities of the Sustainable Coastal Resource Management and Development Program of the Provincial Government.

Efforts under mangrove development are focused mainly on two major activities: the mangrove nursery and the mangrove reforestation activities.

The mangrove nursery is where multi-species of mangrove seedlings are produced and maintained. The seedlings are then made available to LGUs, NGOs, POs and other legitimate and concerned agencies and organizations for their mangrove reforestation projects.

On the other hand, reforestation activities aim to rehabilitate traditional and existing mangrove areas and expand these to re-establish deforested mangrove areas and increase the mangrove cover of the province, not only in coastal areas, but along the province’s river areas as well to mitigate the erosion and siltation of coastal and river banks and beaches.

It also provides rich food sources for numerous aquatic species and provides them with an appropriate breeding ground.

The Bolinao Mangrove Nursery produced a total of 81,884 seedlings in 2009 composed of various mangrove species like Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora styloza (Bakawan bato), Brugueira cylindrical (Pototan lalaki), Avicenia marina (Bungalon), Nypa fruticans (Nipa) and many others such as Bakawan babae, Api-api, Piagan, Malatangal. Pagatpat, Dungon late, Kulasi and Saging-saging.

The fisheries section staff from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist plants mangrove along the shoreline area of the Bolinao Fish Farm in Bolinao last March 18 as part of the reforestation activities under the sustainable coastal resource management and development program of the provincial government. The Bolinao Fish Farm underwent massive upgrading under the administration of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. making mangrove seedling propagation as one of its primary functions, aside from serving as the province’s Mangrove Information Center. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)

* * * * *

Bayambang families get PhilHealth coverage

MORE and more Pangasinenses are enjoying the benefits of the continuing distribution of PhilHealth cards in various municipalities of the province.

Some 1,457 PhilHealth cards were distributed to new enrollees coming from 60 barangays in the town of Bayambang last March 18.

The province overtook the province of Bukidnon and emerged on top of all provinces for having more than 263,000 indigent families enrolled in PhilHealth Insurance from 2007 up to the present.

The distribution of PhilHealth cards is part of Governor Amado T. Espino’s health program to promote prevention of diseases and healthy lifestyles to make Pangasinan the healthiest province in the country.

Pangasinan was adjudged the best province in the country, besting 56 other provinces and 30 cities nationwide for having the largest universal coverage in Philhealth sponsorship.

Aside from health insurance, the indigent sector in Pangasinan can also avail of the upgraded services and facilities of all 14 government-owned hospitals which are undergoing continuing physical rehabilitation and are now equipped with air-conditioning in all wards, stand-by generating sets, better diagnostic capabilities, reconditioned and new ambulance units, clean surroundings and courteous and efficient hospital staff.

Espino vowed that these health programs will not stop until his administration’s missions are achieved.

With the continuing distribution of PhilHealth cards, hospitals around the province are also attending to a growing number of PhilHealth patients.

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments