The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) turned over P53 million cash assistance to farmers of Oriental Mindoro on January 21, 2020.

Under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA), more than 10,000 farmers from the province, tilling from half hectare to two hectares farmlot will receive P5,000 financial aid.

“Nadyan ang ating local government, sila ang nasa frontline. Sila ang food security czar sa province,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

Aside from the RFFA, Dar said the province will receive P100 million for crop production and P6 million for animal production this year. Dar also said the province will receive P115 million from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) this first semester.

“Starting now, the 28,000 hectares will be devoted to rice production and the assistance is in form of agri machinery and equipment, seeds, training and credit,” Dar said.

The Secretary added that the Regional Field Office of MiMaRoPa already distributed P27 million worth of relief assistance to farmers affected by Typhoon Tisoy and Ursula which hit the province last December.

Dar announced that DA is finalizing a project between the Israeli government for the funding of the Solar Power Irrigation System (SPIS) project, adding that Oriental Mindoro is a priority area for the establishment of the water system.

He also committed funding support for the upgrading of rice processing centers in the province, establishment of a food terminal covering in the municipality of Victoria, and Farm-to-Market road Projects.

The Agri chief also committed support for the upgrading of Food Technology Laboratory and Tissue Culture Laboratory for saba and calamansi in Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)