CANDABA – Governor Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda and Vice Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda congratulated the farmers here for being one of the top producers of rice in the country.
“Wala talaga kayong kupas, mapa-noon hanggang ngayon, napakasipag niyong mga magsasaka. Takot kayong magutom ang mga tao,” Gov. Pineda said.
Pampanga is the 11th top producer of rice in the country.
Since 2010 until 2018 that the lady Governor has led the Provincial Government, the production of palay in the province has reached 64,640,586 cavans.
The province is also producing 1,174,440 cavans of corn every year, with 7.5 metric tons per hectare.
For crops like ampalaya, eggplant, string beans, okra, squash, upo, patola, the farmers harvested 12,645,000 kilograms. While 23,995,000 kilograms of mangoes, bananas and papayas have been harvested.
Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Pineda reminded the farmers that they can use the machineries and backhoe loader which the Capitol bought for P9.6 million and P8.2 million, respectively.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala, libre lang po ang paggamit. Sige po sa gas, ako na po ang magbibigay. Mag-request lang po kayo,” the younger Pineda said.
In accordance with law, the Vice Governor also reiterated the Free Irrigation Act authored by Senator Cynthia Villar.
“Nasa batas na po natin yan, yung mga patubig po sa mga sakahan na 8 hektarya pababa. Libre na rin po yan. Kaya kung ano man po ang pangangailangan niyo, nandito lang po kami ni Nanay sa Kapitolyo para po tulungan kayo,” he added.
Through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) led by Angie Blanco and Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) led by Edilberto Salenga, each of the farmers received P1,300 multiplied by the measure of hectares they own.
The beneficiaries were the affected farmers by the typhoon and Habagat last 2018.
Also present during the event were 4th District Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc, 4th District Board Members Pol Balingit and Nelson Calara, 3rd District Board Member Rosve Henson, Candaba local officials led by Mayor Danilo Baylon and Vice Mayor Michael Sagum, Former Mayor Rene Maglanque and 4th District Local Chief Executives. —
Leah Isidro De Fiesta