City of San Fernando—Gov. Dennis Pineda’s agricultural programs and partnerships with government agencies for the last three years have left a solid support system for Pampanga farmers from rehabilitation to seed subsidies as seen from data obtained from the Provincial Agriculture Office.
The Provincial Government of Pampanga’s partnership with the Department of Agriculture has enabled the release of 392 machineries to different farmer cooperatives in Pampanga. Some 5,000 farmers in the province have also received P5,000 cash assistance through the DA’s Rice Farmers Financial Assistance through the help of the provincial government.
Under Pineda’s term, some 120,000 vegetable seeds have benefited upland communities along with 20,000 certified fruit bearing trees that were distributed to aeta farmers and communities.
Additional 500 farmers have also received P25,000 under the expanded sure aide program that aimed at helping marginal farmers and fishers adversely affected by the enhanced community quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This was made possible through the DA and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
Pineda’s close coordination for the rehabilitation of the affected sectors from the dreaded Asian swine fever have enabled the release of 800 pigs, 500 cows, 500 goats and 400 carabaos to farmer beneficiaries in Pampanga.
Irrigator associations have also received assistance and support in improving the province’s irrigation systems.
“Malaki ang naitutulong sa amin ni governor. Kamukha niyan, pinahiram kami ng backhoe, hindi siya nagdalawang salita, antimano, inaksyunan kami. Kaya napakalaki ng pasasalamat namin sa kanya, ‘yung mga magsasaka rito, hindi na mamomroblema dahil sa pinahiram niya,” Barangca Irrigators Association president Dante Catacutan said.
Farmers have also lauded the governor of the machineries that have benefitted members of various cooperative beneficiaries.
Miyabe-yabe Lacmit Multipurpose Cooperative chairman Aquino Gozun said that the provincial government have provided tractors and shallow tube wells (STW) that improved the faming outputs of local farmers.
“Sa provincial government, simula kay Nanay, may naitulong na rin sa amin, itong isang traktora, naibigay sa amin, binigyan kami ng mini-tractor. Kay Governor Dennis, mayro’n din, ‘yung mga STW at siguro marami pa, baka ‘di ko na lang maalala, marami ring naitulong ang provincial government,” Gozun said.