Agriculture Secretary Manny F. Piñol disclosed during a farmers’ forum held in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat that the Department of Agriculture under his administration is serious in bringing more farm products to the Filipino people.

“That is why, I am committing P180-million in funds for the completion of a farm-to-market road in your municipality,” he announced on August 21, 2017 during the face-to-face dialogues with agri-fishery stakeholders.

“We have the budget under the Philippine Rural Development Project but you have to pay the 10 percent equity,” he said to the local chief executives present.

He added that the proposed road network must be connected to a potential food production area.

“That is our condition,” Piñol said.

In addition, Piñol disclosed that he has been been pushing for the inclusion of the municipalities of Kalamansig, Lebak and Palimbang in the Mindanao Railways Systems, in line with the President’s target to provide accessible and affordable food to the Filipino people.

During the event, DA thru its regional office in SOCCKSARGEN turned over P22 million (M) worth of assistance packages and projects to Kalamansig and Lebak.

The grants consist of hand tractor with trailers, floating tillers, shallow tube wells and farm inputs composed of corn and vegetable seeds, rubber and coffee planting materials, and veterinary medicines, among others.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) likewise turned over a total of P4.7M fisheries equipment, which includes 33 units of 30-ft motorized banca, 4 units of 23-ft motorized banca, 75 units of 12-ft fiberglass non-motorized banca (P750,000), 16 units of stand-alone fish stall (P240,000), and 2 units of marine cage livelihood project (P600,000). ### (Kristel Merle/DA-AFID)