Chatto reminds OPA anew on food supply

Governor Edgar M. Chatto has reminded anew the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) regarding the big task of the province of setting the tone of agricultural production to be readied to feed the increasing numbers of population in Bohol once the new Panglao Bohol Airport would be operational this year.

In his inspirational message during the General Assembly and Fellowship Night of the OPA last Monday at the JJ’s Seafoods Village, K of C Driveway, Poblacion 2, Tagbilaran City, Gov. Chatto said ” expect that the 1.3 million Boholano population would double due to the influx of tourists because of the airport”.

Chatto said we should step-up our programs geared towards agriculture so that when the precise time comes we could answer the needs of the agricultural products and could bring the sufficient and sustainable supplies.

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has allocated the amount of P82,679,774  for the whole year operation of the OPA.

Of the 2018 approved budget P37,400,000 are for Non-office Fund; the P8,500,000 for the 20% Development Fund; and P35,779,774 for the General fund.

The non-office is to be used for rice program with the budget worth P4 million, corn Program(P2M), High Value Commercial Crops Program (P3M), Bahay Kubo FAITH Hope CHARITY project (P2M); coconut seedlings (P800,000); Greenhouse for Vegetable Production (P1.5M); Organic Agriculture Dev’t Program (P7.9M); Fisheries Special Project: Small Scale Bangus Hatchery at BISU, Candijay; Ubi Festival celebration (P350,000); Suhid sa Malampusong Mag-uumang Bol-anon (P500,000); World Food Day celebration (P200,000.00); Counterpart Funds to the Bohol

Association of Farmers and Fisherfolks (P200,000); Fish Bagsakan Program t purchase one unit of ice maker; and the P2.3 million for Fish Bagsakan program to construct the fish bagsakan building and display racks.

The P35,779,774 general fund has been used for the salaries of permanent employees and Job Order Workers (JOWs), benefits of the employees, Travelling Expenses Vouchers (TEVs), caterings during meetings, repair and maintenance of building and vehicles, gasoline, office supplies among others.

These interventions given to the Boholano farmers and fisherfolks do not include the programs and projects delivered through the countryside Development Program-Purok Power Movement (CDP-PPM).

Since 2011, more than 120 remote barangays in Bohol were benefited by CDP-PPM’s free services, hog and cattle dispersal thru the government and received items like plastic tables and chairs, plastic drums, knapsack sprayers, organic fertilizers, hand tractors , threshers , water pumps, hose, food packs, coconut and fruit tree seedlings, vegetables seeds and other agricultural materials.

Other free services given were medical and dental, animal health services, massage, hair-cut and circumcision.

Gov. Chatto said agriculture is one of his overarching developmental framework which he also considered as the backbone for Bohol’s economy. (Atoy Cosap)