The fifth district of Leyte, composed of the city of Baybay and municipalities of Abuyog, Bato, Hilangos, Hindang, Inopacan, Javier, Mahaplag, and Matalom, received over P51.7 million (M) worth of agri-fishery intervention and insurance from the Department of Agriculture in Region 8 (DA-8) during the farmers’ and fisherfolk forum on April 11, 2018 at the city gymanasium of Baybay, Leyte.

Agriculture Secretary Manny F. Piñol, together with Undersecretary for Fisheries Eduardo B. Gongona, DA-8 Regional Executive Director and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-8) Regional Director Visa Tan-Demerin, graced the turn-over ceremony attended by more than 500 farmers’ and fisherfolk, and city and municipal mayors.

The fifth district of Leyte The interventions included 1M cassava planting materials, 2,250 bags of hybrid corn (yellow), 40 bags fertilizers (organic, complete, Urea, Muriate of Potash), 13,734 doses of assorted drugs and biologics including mineral block, three units of screen house (to be established), one unit each of greenhouse and nursery (to be established), 90 kilograms assorted vegetable seeds, 10,000 pieces of abaca planting materials, three units of DD construction, and one unit of Small Water Impounding Project (for construction).

During the event, DA’s Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation also awarded 37 farmers with Indemnity Check worth P215, 642.

The forum also served as a venue for the launching of the F/B Pagbabago highlighted by the distribution of 50 units of 30-footer fiberglass boat, and a commitment for an additional 120 units that are still under construction. 

Each boat, insured by BFAR, will be used for livelihood and marine resource management activities.

On top of these, Piñol committed 50 units of twin-engine fiberglass boats for the district as well as a credit facility for the rehabilitation of the local abaca industry. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)