The Department of Agriculture in Region 8 (DA-8) has turned over P4.3 million (M) worth of agri-fishery interventions to the municipality of Mapanas, Northern Samar on April 10, 2018.

“This time, the government will deliver it to you. We don’t just talk, we make actions,” Agriculture Secretary Manny F. Pinol said.

Piñol, together with Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Bienvenido V. Tejano, Municipal Mayor Francis John L. Tejano, Undersecretary for Fisheries and Director for Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Eduardo B. Gongona, DA-8 Regional Executive Director Cipriano G. Santiago, and BFAR-8 Regional Director Visa Tan-Demerin awarded 50 units of 30-footer fiberglass boats with accessories and 50 units of insured boats to the fisherfolk of Mapanas.

DA-8 also distributed eight (8) units of incubators, one (1) unit of Generator set, 432 heads of ready-to-lay chicken, 25 bags of OPV White Corn, 20 bags of hybrid corn (Yellow), 1,526 doses of assorted drugs, biologics and mineral block, 46 bags of hybrid rice seeds, 138 bags of Urea fertilizer, 184 bags of complete fertilizer, 20 bags of Muriate of Potash, 25 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds, and 5,000 pieces of assorted planting materials.

In addition, Piñol committed P10M credit facility for Mapanas and the municipality of Palapag, P10M loan for the establishment of an ice plant at 2% interest every year and payable for 8 years, a refrigerated van, P1M capital of Mapanas Fisheries Association, additional fund assistance for the seaweed industry, and additional 60 fiberglass boats.

In his message, the Agri chief stressed that DA will focus on the improvement of rice production through the hybridization technology.

“We will start hybridization of seeds to about 380 hectares of farmlands here in Mapanas, and so I encourage you to organize into groups so we can provide you complete interventions,” Pinol said.

“Hindi namin kayo paasahin sa mga proyektong di namin kayang gawin,” Pinol ended. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)