DA Secretary vows to help boost Pangasinan’s agri programs
LINGAYEN–The Department of Agriculture (DA) vowed to implement more programs for Pangasinan, particularly for irrigation systems and production of certified palay seeds in line with its vision to propel the country as “food staple sufficient” by the year 2013.
This developed during a dialogue between DA Secretary Proceso Alcala and key officials in Pangasinan led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., last July 22 at the Capitol Resort Hotel here.
In welcoming the agriculture secretary, Espino thanked the national government for its effort to implement innovative programs on agriculture in support of Pangasinan’s thrust to further improve the level of rice sufficiency in the province.
However, the governor said that the province needs more support from the DA specifically for its irrigation systems which according he said is vital for the province to fully realize its goal.
Acknowledging that that Pangasinan will remain an agricultural province for the next 20 years because of lack of support facilities to industrialize the province, Espino said the provincial government is continuously seeking ways to improve the plight of the marginal farmers essentially through its seed production project.
The provincial government recently distributed certified seeds to farmers in the province.
Espino expressed the province’s intention to fully support the national government’s agricultural thrust by producing high-quality certified seeds.
Relative to this, the provincial government, in partnership with Abono Partylist and the DA, will produce 8,750 bags of certified seeds that will be planted by farmers during the main cropping in 2012.
For his part, Alcala lauded the initiatives undertaken by the province as he reported that the national government has finished the agriculture roadmaps specifically designed for rice, corn and livestock program.
Funds for various agricultural programs, he said, are already being prepared with the budget for 2016 frontloaded to finance different countrywide irrigation projects for 2012.
Other issues and concerns raised during the consultation dialogue include the development of Pangasinan hatcheries to which Alcala vowed to meet with the officers and members of the Mayors’ League to further discuss the program; and the proposed establishment of a trading center (bagsakan market) in Urdaneta City as requested by Mayor Amadeo “Bobom” Perez III.
On farm-to-market road (FMR) projects, the agriculture secretary explained there will be delays this year because of budgetary constraints. DA, he said, has a problem with the 2011 budget for FMR projects adding that the remaining 75% budget for this year will be used for concreting purposes only. However, he said, brighter prospects await FMR projects by 2012 with an increased budgetary allocation from the national government.
The consultation dialogue, a part of the DA’s nationwide dialogue campaign with LGUs, was participated in by 2nd District Representative Leopoldo Bataoil, 3rd District Representative Rachel Arenas, members of the Sangguniang board led by Vice Mayor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim and 31 mayors in Pangasinan led by its newly-elected League of Mayors President Noel Nacar. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)
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