Xmas Tabo, indemnity checks, organic fertilizers for farmers in Central Visayas

CEBU CITY--The agriculture and fishery stakeholders in Bohol mounted its 6^th year “Pamaskong Tabo” at the Department of Agriculture (DA-7) Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center (B-APC) in Tagbilaran City on December 16-17, showcasing agri-fishery products and by-products such as rice, fruits, vegetables, fish, process food products and homestyle hand-made products.

DA-7 regional executive director Atty. Salvador Diputado thanked the exhibitors who joined the Tabo despite the health issues facing the country today and said that this Tabo which is on its 6th year is part of Secretary William Dar's priority program which is food accessibility and availability for the consumers.

"I'm encouraging all our Municipal Agriculturists and Officers (MA/MAO) to list all farmers in your localities in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) for them to avail of any interventions or assistance from the government. But we need to be fair, factual and honest when enlisting," Diputado said.

He also announced that DA is giving away P5,000 cash and food subsidy for marginalized farmers and fisherfolk.  The amount covers P3,000 cash, while the P2,000 are food subsidy with P1,000 for rice and the other P1,000 for dressed chicken and eggs.

According to Celerina Galorio, Research and Development Unit Head and member of the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal System (GFPS) of DA-7 said that the farmer-
associations must be exposed to such activity to mold them to become agricultural-entrepreneurs.

Galoria added that the yearly Tabo has registered consistently about an average of 10 percent increase in sales every year for the last six years.  "We look forward that sales of the goods displayed will be maintained despite this pandemic," she said.

Helen Daguplo and Raquel Lacar of the La Suerte Organic Vegetable Growers Association (LASOVEGA) of Pilar, Bohol extended their gratitude to DA for the opportunity to be part of the Pamaskong Tabo.

They said that this is the first time that the association joined and experienced such an activity and they wer very satisfied and felt that they (farmers) are being supported. “Hopefully we will become “agri-preneurs” in the future with these kinds of events,” Daguplo said.

P2.4M indemnity to 337 farmers, 526 bags of vermicast for Siquijor veggie farmers

In another developments, DA-7 release P2.4-M indemnity check to some 337 farmer-beneficiaries in Mabinay, Negros Oriental and distributed 526 bags of organic vermicast fertilizers to Siquijor Province in time for the holiday season.

The Department of Agriculture's Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (DA-PCIC) and DA-7's Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO) of the province awarded the checks to the 337 farmers as compensation of their damaged crops brought by natural calamities.

According to APCO Sarah Perocho that the amount of the indemnity check issued depended on the extent of damaged crops and livestock that were insured with PCIC.  The insured farmers said that this indemnity compensation is really a big help to them especially in starting again their farming activities.

Meanwhile in Siquijor Province, the Department of Agriculture (DA-7) distributed those organic fertilizers to support the Gulayan sa Barangay (GSB) project in the Island Province.

Siquijor Governor Zaldy Villa received the vermicast fertilizers from Gregolita Bunado, DA-7 Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) of Siquijor.  Villa expressed his gratitude for the interventions provided to the vegetable farmers there.

He reminded his staff at the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) to be fair in their distribution to the beneficiaries in the barangays.

Provincial Agriculturist Lilibeth Caroro informed the governor that they immediately delivered the vermicast to the municipalities and distributed immediately to the barangays with established Gulayan sa Barangay farms.

According to Bunado that the Gulayan sa Barangay (GSB) is a project of DA to establish a community and backyard gardens to ensure that households have access to nutritious vegetables as source of food for the family.

Bunado added that the GSB has a positive impact since it started in Siquijor and said that there are already 42 GSBs in the province. "We will consistently implement this program for us to attain food self-reliance and self-sufficiency," Bunado said.

Barangay Captain Robert Ympal of Candura, San Juan, Siquijor expressed his gratitude to DA7 and PAO as he claimed the fertilizers allocated for their barangays.  "Daku kaayo ni nga tabang sa mga kabalayan sa among barangays alang sa gulayan," Ympal said.  (These will help our households put up their own gulayan sa barangays.)