Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol led the distribution of more than P8.85 million (M) worth of various farm and fishery interventions to the indigenous people of Calauit Island of Busuanga, Palawan on August 8, 2018.

Part of the interventions awarded was a unit of a four-wheel drive tractor with implements and nine (9) kilograms assorted vegetables valued at P2.04 M courtesy of the Department of Agriculture-MIMAROPA Regional Office.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, for their part, turned over 24 units of 30-footer fiberglass boat with complete accessories and 18-horsepower (hp) diesel engine, 61 units of fiberglass payao, 20 pieces of 18-hp marine diesel, 400 sets of bottom gill net, 200 sets of hook and line, 100 sets of seaweed farm implements, and 5,000 kg of seaweed seedlings for a total worth of P6.78 M.

The Agri chief who visited the island for the first time also committed 20 carabaos to be shared by the 40 families of Calauit island.

In addition, he instructed DA to allot P5 M for vegetable growing, as well as the improvement of agri learning modules of Calauit High School. Piñol also donated P1M for the establishment of a new school building. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)