More than 300 Bulakenyo fisherfolks and farmers cooperatives receive aid from DA, BFAR

CITY OF MALOLOS – Around 300 Bulakenyo fisherfolks and 85 Farmers Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) received aid from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Bulacan during the “Distribution of Agricultural and Fisheries Interventions to Farmers and Fisherfolks” at the Bulacan Sports Complex, Brgy. Sta Isabel in this city last Tuesday, July 12, 2022.

The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) said a total of P35,963,322.48 million worth of farm and fisheries interventions were given to the beneficiaries from the towns and cities of Bulacan.

DA Regional Technical Director Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz, Jr., BFAR Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz, Gov. Daniel R. Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro led the distribution of assistance for the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering including 14 shallow tube wells; four warehouse with mobile mechanical dryers; three four-wheel drive tractors; three rice combine harvesters and three Solar Powered Fertigation Systems (SPFS-8) for the 27 FCAs.

For the High Value Commercial Crops program, 50 FCAs were given 100 knapsack sprayers and four FCAs received 180 kgs of assorted vegetable seeds.

Also, the Fisheries Program was awarded with 170 rolls of gillnets with accessories for 170 fisherfolks; 120 rolls of multifilament PE net (black net) to 120 fisherfolks; five marine engines for five fisherfolks; five fish vending equipment (tri-bike) for five fisherfolks; three smokehouse packages for three FCAs; and one smokehouse for one FCA.

“Kaisa po ang inyong lingkod sa adhikaing mapalakas ang sektor ng agrikultura sa ating lalawigan at patunay po nito ang tuluy-tuloy na pamamahagi natin ng makabagong farming technology at agricultural machineries upang mapanatili natin ang sapat na supply ng pagkain sa ating lalawigan at bansa. Tungo rito, nais ko ring pasalamatan ang PAO, DA RFO 3, at DA-BFAR Region 3 para sa makabuluhang programa. Malaki po ang papel ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda sa paglalatag ng pundasyon ng matatag na ekonomiya. Sila po ay maituturing na mga bayaning sumisiguro na mayroong sapat na pagkain sa ating pamayanan,” Fernando said.

Fernando also discussed the programs for the farmers and fishermen including the nearly finished Bulacan Farmers Training Center, continuous provision of organic fertilizers and breeding of animals.

Meanwhile, the Province of Bulacan headed by Fernando received a certificate of recognition from the DA Regional Field Office 3, recognizing the province’s excellent implementation of programs on high value crops production. ###