Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala hands to Bohol a total of P254 million farm implements, projects, crucial farm roads, inputs and fishing gears to highlight the government’s goal of food sufficiency as Bohol commemorates World Food Day, October 14.

Alcala, who was the guest of honor during the event held at the Bohol Cultural Center, symbolically handed over P153 million farm to market roads in Balilihan, Catigbian, Sagbayan and Loboc through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

This comprises more than half of the entire amount the agriculture department handed to Bohol.

Other than those, through the government’s Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB), the DA also turned over farm to market roads in Dauis, President Carlos P. Garcia, Talibon, Bilar, Carmen, Duero and Sierra Bullones.

This, according to the DA through Jake Madrio, is a total of P41.27 million.

Also, the DA, in its effort to sustain the food supply by supporting new farming technologies in Bohol and the Visayas handed 4WD 90 HP tractors to Mabini, Maribojoc and Loon, the same tractor and combined with a harvester to the Ubay Stock Farm and the Provincial Agriculture Office amounting to P6.4 million.

Other 45 HP 4WD tractors went to Loon, Calape and Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center, goods worth P2.3 million.

For San Miguel Caluasan Farms service provider and the Malingin Irrigation System Farm service providers, the DA turned over 35 HP 4WD tractors worth P1.5 million.

For smaller farms where tractors are impractical, the DA also handed hand tractors with trailer for irrigation system based services to San Jose Mabini IA, San Rafael-Bangi IA in Mabini and the Malingin IA in Ubay, these farm implements costing the government P260K.

The DA secretary also handed had tractors with cultivator tiCarmen’s La Salvacion FA and LGU San Miguel, Madrio said.

For Bohol’s being the only province with high rice sufficiency level, the DA also gave rice threshers with blowers for irrigation systems in San Jose Lamak IA Mabini, San Rafael-Bangi IA Mabini, Malingin IA Ubay, San Miguel Caluasan Dagohoy and Malingin IA Ubay worth P1.4M.

Also the DA secretary from Quezon handed pedal threshers for San Jose-Lamak IA Mabini, San Rafael-Bangi IA Mabini, Malingin IA Ubay and other floating tillers for 14 other farmer organizations worth over P2million.

With Sec Alcala at the ceremonies were DA regional Director Angel Enriqiez, BFAR Regional Director Alan Poquita, DA and BFAR 7 support staff, Bohol DA-Agricultural promotion Center manager Engr Eugene Cahiles, ATI manager Dr Carol Daquio, Gov Edgar Chatto, BM Cesar Tomas Lopez and 10 mayors recipients of agricultural implements. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)