Press Release

Gov. Aris leads Boholanos to join World Food Day

Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado will lead the Boholanos to join the whole world in celebration of the World Food Day on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has
prepared a program to fit the celebration to be held at the Bohol Cultural Center this city to start at 9 in the morning.

In the program, Gov. Aumentado will deliver the inspirational message while Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor A.
Balite will give the welcome remarks while Director Joel A. Elumba, OIC- Regtional Executive Director,
Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 will give the message of support as Dr. Gracia F. Arado, OIC-Center Director, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-7 will explain the rationale.

Other activities being lined-up in the one- day affair to include: Agri-Fishery Situationer And Major Programs ofOPA to be shared by Acting Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas; Sharing of Best Practices on Organic Farming by Jose Travero, Organic Farming Practitioner; Integrated Farming System (Celencio Maligsa, Farmer); Vegetable Production and Marketing Enterprise (Casino Monil, Farmer Entrepreneur/Owner, Bilar STEM Vegetable Farm); Sharing of Best Practices: Rice Wine Processing Enterprise to be shared by Vanessa Panugan,the owner of Jzaki Rice Wine (“The First Rice Wine Produced in Bohol”); Mushroom Production Enterprise to be taken by Rona Denque, CEO-Green Thumb Farm, Corella; and Tilapia Production Enterprise by Eleno Evangelista, Upland Aquaculture Section Head-OPA).

There will be an open forum to give chance of the participants to ask clarification or questions to the sharers.

Joining the World Food Day Celebration is one of the annual activities of the provincial government geared towards the strengthening of the relationship with national and international ties to fly together into greater height as the celebration this year brings the theme “Leave No One Behind”. (Atoy Cosap)

Low prices of fish eyed to reach Bohol markets by December

The relentless move to bring down the prices of fish will continue until the supply can reach the various public markets, and not just at the Old City Airport.ADVERTISING

Former Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan who is on the frontline of this advocacy said the core group manning the entry of more fish supplies has targeted December this year to have the distribution chain operational.

He said the much-awaited operation of a huge refrigerated van now stationed at the old City Airport is targeted this week as the required electrical connections were ordered done the fastest it could be completed. The van can accommodate 15 tons of fish and marine items.

“The target of this operation is to bring the low-priced fish supplies up to the public markets, not just in the city, but in the towns as well,” Calipusan stressed.

Earlier this week, fish supplies from Zamboanga City and from the Talibon area were sold at a lower price which triggered prices of fish at the Fish Terminal in Causeway Drive having to be reduced also so as to compete with that at the airport. The first shipment of fish supply from Zamboanga effected a reduction of borot-borot fish to P170 per kilo and P160 at the various markets in the city.

Calipusan said the Task Force Isda is starting to “negotiate” with fish suppliers in Pasil, Cebu which is the major selling point of fish in the entire Central Visayas. Other targeted suppliers are in Plaridel and General Santos.

OPA accepts nominees for Suhid’22

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in the Provincial Government of Bohol ( PGBh ) now accepts nominees from the different municipalities in the province for the Suhid sa Malampusong Mag-uumang Bol-anon 2022 search.

The Suhid is an annual tilt of the PGBh aims to recognize and award the Boholano farmers and fisherfolks who have excelled in the different fields of agriculture in the province of Bohol.

During the Provincial Coordinating Council on Agri-Fishery (PCCAF) meeting last October 14, 2022 held at the Reynas The Haven and Garden, New Calceta St., Cogon, Tagbilaran City who was attended by the Municipal Agriculturists/Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAs/MAOs), the Planning Division of OPA presented the categories and its guidelines and criteria of the search and gave it to the MAs/MAOs who were present.

The 27 categories and its corresponding prizes are the following: Outstanding Highest Yielder on Hybrid Ricen Farmer (P5, 000), Outstanding Highest Yielder on Inbred Rice Farmer (P5, 000), Outstanding Corn Hybrid Farmer, Outstanding Corn Inbred Farmer (P5, 000), Outstanding Integrated High Value Crops Farmer (P5, 000), Outstanding Coconut Farmer (P5, 000), Outstanding Cassava Farmer (P5, 000), Outstanding Local Fruits Farmer (P5, 000), Outstanding Young Farmer (Practicing Organic Farming) (P15, 000), Outstanding Organic Agriculture Practitioner (Individual Family) (P10, 000), Outstanding Organic Practitioner (Association) (P15, 000), Outstanding Tilapia Culture (P5, 000), Outstanding Bangus Culture (P5, 000), Outstanding Fishermen’s Association (15, 000), Outstanding Seaweeds Producer (P5,000), Outstanding Municipal Agriculturist (P5, 000), Outstanding Organic Technician (P5, 000), Outstanding
Association (this will be based on our implemented programs) (P15, 000), Outstanding Exhibitor of Tabo sa Bohol (P5, 000), Outstanding Agri-Enterprise for Crops (P5, 000), Outstanding Agri-Enterprise for Fishery (P5, 000), Outstanding Rural Woman (P5, 000), Outstanding 4H-Club (P20, 000), Outstanding Rice Technician (p5, 000), Outstanding Corn Technician (P5, 000), Outstanding Fishery Technician (P5, 000), and Outstanding HVCDP Technician (P5, 000).

The OPA has set the deadline to accept the nominees on October 31, 2022 and scheduled the evaluations on the whole month of November and on a high hope that the awarding of winners will be on middle of December this year.

On last year tilt, the municipality of Ubay bagged six out of the 25 categories of the Suhid participated by 25 towns namely; Calape, Jagna, Duero, San Miguel, Carmen, Trinidad, Sagbayan, Tubigon, Buenavista, Talibon, Danao, Candijay, Pilar, Corella and Ubay.

The agriculture office in the provincial government is optimistic that more Local Government Units (LGUs) who will participate this year’s tilt as to show their supports to the new blend of leadership in the province under the administration of Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado and Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite. (Atoy Cosap)

Farm machineries and facilities to boost agriculture blessed

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) is gradually achieving in the quest to modernize agriculture in
the province.

Last Thursday, Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado led the ribbon cutting and the blessings of some farm machinery and farm facilities at Bohol Organic Agriculture Technology (BOATech) Center in Gabi, Ubay, Bohol.

The farm machinery and facilities which are worth P68,900,000 are as follows: Combine Corn Harvester-4
rows (picker, sheller, and stalk chopper) with trailers; Brand New Movable Trailer-Mounted mechanical dryer 4 to5 tons capacity; Portable Feed Mill; Corn Flour Mill (25 tons corn/day);120 HP Tractor with Complete Accessories (disc plow, furrow ridge, harrow); 95 HP Tractor with Complete Accessories (disc plow and harrow); Cassava Chipper and Cassava Uprooter; and Cassava Dryer (6-8 tons) options diesel-electric-rice hull or corn cobs fuel.

Gov. Aumentado has cited the importance of farm equipment to boost the agricultural products in Bohol.
Acting Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas said that the objectives to purchase of the machinery above are to increase the production of quality corn and cassava for human consumption, feeds and industrial uses; to empower the farmers and increase their income, thereby improving the quality of life; to facilitate the production of local feeds for livestock and aqua intended for backyard raisers; to reduce the production cost of livestock and fishery products; to showcase the complete value chain for corn and cassava; to enhance farm efficiency compared to manual labor; and to have access to modern agricultural equipment for the farmers thereby reducing production cost for corn and cassava.

Dr. Pamugas bared that the direct beneficiaries are the Boholano corn/cassava farmers who will be given
production support through the provision of affordable and efficient machine services during the land preparation, harvesting, and other postharvest activities.

Pamugas emphasized that the distribution of the machines will be focused on the four clustered areas of corn and cassava in the province such as; Cluster 1 (Dimiao, Valencia), Cluster 2 (Carmen, Sagbayan, and Sierra- Bullones), Cluster 3 (Dagohoy, Danao, San Miguel, and Trinidad), and Cluster 4 (Anda, Alicia and Ubay). Each cluster will have a machine shade based on the approved proposal from the Development Bank of the Philippines. He said that the equipment will be stationed in strategically clustered areas for easy access to the beneficiaries. It will also serve as the workshop and focal ground of the team and operators managing the machine.

The rental and payment mechanism for the use of the machinery will be based on the approved ordinance of the provincial government.

The province of Bohol has more than 20,786 corn farmers and the existing areas utilized for corn production are at 6, 243 hectares (has.) but it can be expanded to 20, 000 has. If appropriate support will be provided. (Atoy Cosap)

Gov.Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado leads the blessings of the farm machineries and facilities at Bohol Organic Agriculture Technology (BOATech) Center in Gabi, Ubay last Thursday. He is assisted by Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte and his mother Former First Lady in the Province of Bohol Mrs. Greeny C.Aumentado. Photo by Alfredo Amora Jr.

Cassava industry foresees shine again

After the Liwayway Corporation had stopped their operation in cassava business here in the province of Bohol sometimes in 2017, the cassava industry has been collapsed that would badly affect the income among Boholano cassava farmers.
But this dark and dismal situation is foreseen to have shined again if the PNP-KGB Multipurpose Cooperative could avail the grant from the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) under the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the amount of P50 million pesos.
Gertrudes S. Fuentes, Chief-Crops and Productivity Division, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said that the PNB-KGB MPC is now about to present the Business Plan to Regional Program Advisory Board (RPAB) that composed by the DA and other Agri-line Agency Officials and if it will get a nod then the cooperative will comply other requirements to finally approve the grant.
Fuentes said that RPAB is meticulous in dealing and accepting the documents from the proponent to ensure that the project would be properly implemented.
She said that the PRDP has to look at some considerations as to grant the projects to the proponent and which are the following: capacity to provide equity, must be a registered coop/PO, has a certificate of good standing, certified by the DA, large number of memberships, capacity to handle the project, submission of letter of intent and has an Approved Commodity Investment Plan (ACIP).
Actually, she said the cassava processing project under PRDP has three interested proponents to compete
namely: PNB_KGB MPC, Trinidad Multipurpose Cooperative, and Riceland Paradise Multipurpose Cooperative. But only the PNB-KGB MPC has qualified because it has an ACIP.
Of the P50M worth cassava processing project, 5% of the P10M which is the 20% of the P50M is the cash equity equivalent to P500,000.
The PNB-KGB MPC has 2, 000 members province wide through the chairmanship of Edgar Bag-ao, a retired Cooperative Development Authority employee who has love and passion in farming.
The province of Bohol has 3,346.17 hectares (has.) of potential land cassava areas and 5, 741 total numbers of cassava farmers.
The top ten municipalities who have large areas for cassava planting are: Carmen (716 has.), Trinidad (427.43 has.), Dagohoy (250 has.), Dimiao (239.45 has.), San Miguel (214.75 has.), Mabini (203.5 has.), Pilar (178.5 has.), Ubay (172.5 has.), Sierra-BUllones (75 has.) and Danao (70 has.). Other areas are scattered to other towns in the province.
Acting Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas is optimistic that once the project would be materialized the cassava industry in Bohol will definitely jump into higher height which is a great help for the Boholano farmers to have additional income. (Atoy Cosap)

Farmers’ forum starts tomorrow

The new administration of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) is determined to dig deeper to get the
root causes on why that the prices of some agricultural products in the province are high compared to other
provinces.
As part of this endeavour, the PGBh through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) will hold the two
days farmers and fisherfolks forum which will start tomorrow and will end up on the following day at the
Ceremonial Hall, 4 th Floor, News Capitol Building, Cogon District, Tagbilaran City.
Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado has wanted to meet with the presidents of the irrigators associations and
peoples organizations, municipal agriculturists (MAs) and representatives from agri-line agencies to tackle issues
and concerns they have been encountered that hampering the development of the agriculture sector as well as to
gather sentiments from them on what priority programs they may deem immediate.
For so long a time, the farmers have been facing the problems of high prices of fertilizers and rice seeds, low
price of palay, high production cost/labour cost and the bad effects of climate change; while the fisherfolks have
been tied have been also tied with the escalating prices of feeds for cultured fishery and fishing gears, investment
capital and becomes victims of unscrupulous fish traders.
The high prices of fish in the province have always been the clamour among the buying public for so many years
already comparing the prices of the same commodities in other provinces.
In the opening program tomorrow morning, Gov. Aumentado will deliver his inspirational message after Vice-
Gov. Dionisio Victor A. Balita could give his message of support; while Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M.
Pamugas will give the agricultural situation in Bohol as Board Member Nathaniel O. Binlod, Sangguniang
Panlalawigan Chairman- Committee on Agriculture and Provincial Agriculturist Liza M. Quirog will give the
welcome message and acknowledge the participants respectively.
Direcor Joel A. Elumba, OIC-Regional Executive Direcor, Department of Agriculture (DA) 7; Dr. Gracia F.
Arado, OIC-Center Director, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) 7; Candido T. Samijon, Provincial Fishery
Officer, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Elena Fabre, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)
Bohol; Jessamyne Anne C. Alcazaren, Chief Statistical Specialist, Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA); Engr. Reyne
B. Ugay, Acting Regional Manager, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Regional Office-7; and Ms. Fe H.
Evasco, Manager, National Food Authority (NFA) will present their programs and projects.
There will be an open forum and workshop to be undertaken before Engr. Ricardo D. Oblena, CESO III-
Executive Assistant for Agriculture in the provincial government will formally close the preliminary program. (Atoy
Cosap)

OPA accepts Suhid ’23 nominees

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) is now
accepting nominees from the agri-fishery sector in all municipalities of Bohol for the 24 categories of the Suhid sa
Malampusong Mag-uumang Bol-anon 2023 search.

This developed during the pre-evaluation meeting last Thursday held at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist
Liza M. Quirog, 3 rd Floor, New Capitol Building of which it was agreed that the deadline for the submission of the
nominees will be on September 6, 2023, and the evaluations will be conducted on September 11, 2023 up to the end
of October 2023.

The OPA is hopeful that the Municipal Agriculturists/Municipal Agricultural Officers (Mas/MAOs) will catch up
on the given schedules for the smooth conduct of the tilt so as to hit the target on the awarding ceremony which was
tentatively scheduled in the middle of November this year.

Provincial Agriculturist Quirog said that she would expect more nominees for every category of the search to be
submitted through the MAs/MAOs because of the big prizes at stake as this year’s tilt the winners would receive not
only money as prizes but also farm equipment which are very useful to their respective field of works.

The SUHID ’23 categories and its corresponding prizes are as follows: Outstanding Farmer on Integrated Rice
Based-Farming System with the prizes of P6, 000 and one unit of power tiller, Outstanding Hybrid Corn Farmer (P6,
000 + corn sheller), Outstanding OPV Corn Farmer (P6, 000 + corn sheller), Outstanding Integrated High-Value
Crops Farmer (P6, 000 + garden cultivator), Outstanding cacao grower (P6, 000 + mechanical pruner), Outstanding
Cassava Farmer (P6, 000 + garden cultivator),

Outstanding Banana Grower (P6, 000 + power sprayer), Outstanding Organic Agriculture Individual Practitioner
(P10, 000 + garden cultivator), Outstanding Organic Practitioner Association (P17, 000 + garden cultivator),
Outstanding Tilapia Culture Commercial Pond (P6, 000 + water pump), Outstanding Tilapia Culture Backyard Pond
(P6, 000 + water pond), Outstanding Bangus Culture Cage (P6, 000 + fiber glass boat), Outstanding Bangus Culture
Pond (P6, 000 + water pond), Outstanding Fishermen’s Association (P17, 000 + fabricated pumpboat),

Outstanding Municipal Agriculturist (P6, 000 + power sprayer), Outstanding Farmers Association Program
Based (P17, 000 + garden cultivator and power tiller), Outstanding Rural Woman (P6, 000 + garden cultivator),
Outstanding 4H-Club (P20, 000 + garden cultivator), Outstanding Organic Technician (P6, 000 + power sprayer),
Outstanding Rice Technician (P6, 000 + (P6, 000 + power sprayer), Outstanding Corn Technician (P6, 000 + power
sprayer), and Outstanding Fishery Technician (P6, 000 + power sprayer). (Atoy Cosap)

Sandugo Agri Fair yields P780,000 in sales

The just concluded three-day Sandugo Agri-fair in the province of Bohol last July 18-20 at the Old Tagbilaran City Airport had gotten total sales of P780, 814.

The fair was participated by 23 exhibitors from the different participating Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) namely: Pilar, Talibon, Tagbilaran City, Buenavista, Calape, San Miguel, Baclayon, Bien Unido, Batuan, Carmen, Candijay, Cortes, Trinidad, Sierra-Bullones, Loon, Valencia, Panglao, Sevilla, Loboc, Ubay, Dimiao, Balilihan, and Dauis.

Eleven commercial partner exhibitors participated. These were the Bio AGRONICA, RPC-KOICA, UNACHO Feeds Company, AGRIMAC, SL HATAW Seeds Distributor, BONACGA-Bohol Native Chicken Grower’s Association, Bohol Rabbit, FISH, Suki Trading, PIGROLAC and Aldrtz Corporation; while the seven Tabo Exhibitors were: AIM, Jumawid Farm, Evalyn’s Processed, Garrote Dried Fish, KaBoOM, BUSEO and Cabudlan Farmers Association.

Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado in his inspirational message during the closing and awarding program last July 20, emphasized that agriculture is on top of his priority programs in the province.

Gov. Aumentado thanked the exhibitors who participated in the fair while he asked them to continue giving support to the plans and programs of the provincial government.

The Sandugo Agri-fair is an annual activity of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) as one of the highlights of the month-long celebration of the Bohol Sandugo Festival every July showcasing the agricultural products from the Boholano farmers, fisherfolks and livestock raisers.

The three-day activities included different contests with big prizes at stake which also encouraged the exhibitors to participate.

The celebration aims to recognize and award the efforts and toil of the Boholanos who have been helping the PGBh in shaping up the agricultural landscape of Bohol.

The fair was closely coordinated with the Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Office 7 (DA-FRO 7) and other government agri-line agencies: Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bohol Island State University (BISU), Ubay Stock Farm (USF), Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV), Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center (B-APC) and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).

No Ubi Fest but can still
buy Ubi at Old Airport

Due to the super typhoon “Odette” and the Local Government Units (LGUs) have been very busy in the relief
and rehabilitation efforts, the Ubi Festival cannot be conducted this year.
The Ubi Festival is one of the annual activities of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) every 3 rd week of
January which aims at recognizing and awarding the Ubi growers who have been helping the PGBh to sustain the
Ubi industry in Bohol.
However, Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas said that the buying public can still buy Ubi
tubers in big volume at the Old Tagbilaran City Airport starting tomorrow until supply lasts.
Pamugas emphasized that only Ubi products from the members of the Bohol Ubi Growers Associations (BUGA)
are allowed to be displayed and sold at the Old Airport.
He added that the conduct of Ubi Festival has a lot of preparation which could be hardly done by the LGUs
whose times have been focused on the relief operations and restoration of the devastation brought about by Odette.
Pamugas also clarified that not only Ubi tubers can be sold at the old airport but also other root crops like
cassava, camote, apale, gabi among others.
The assistant Provincial Agriculturist stressed that if there had been no Odettete that hit Bohol even though there
is still a threat of COVID-19 like last year, the PGBh through OPA could conduct Ubi Fest this year.
Regularly, the Ubi Festival has been participated by the LGU of Tagbilaran City, Dauis, Panglao, Baclayon,
Sikatuna, Corella, Cortes, Antequera, Loon, Carmen, Pilar, Ubay, Sevilla, Loay, Dimiao, Balilihan, San Isidro, San
Miguel, Valencia, Jagna, and Anda.
The selling of Ubi at the Old Airport tomorrow coincides with the launching of the “Kadiwa on Wheels” in
Bohol this year wherein fruits, vegetables, root crops and fish products from Davao and Zamboanga Regions will be
sold such project is in partnership with the province of Bohol. ( with report from Atoy Cosap)

DA Sec. Dar arrives this afternoon

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar will this afternoon in the province to lead the
turnover of the different projects of DA to the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) among others.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas said that Sec. Dar will stay overnight in Bohol to lead the
ceremonial turnover of the different projects of the department to the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) and
to give assistance to the Boholano farmers.
According to the news posted by DA’s Facebook Page, Sec. Dar will lead the ceremonial awarding of the cash
subsidy to 52,818 Boholano rice farmers amounted to more than P264M under the Rice Farmers’ Financial
Assistance (RFFA) program who are duly registered at the Registry System on Basic Sector (RSBSA) during the
program to be held tomorrow morning at Bohol Island State University (BISU) Tagbilaran City Main Campus.
The equipment to be turned over by Sec. Dar to the PGBh are the 5 hauling trucks worth P9.3M from the rice
program and the agribusiness and marketing assistance division, corn seeds worth more than P8M, farm-to-market-
road for 7 local government units worth more than P70M, and the combined interventions from the Special Area for
Agricultural Development program and the Balik Probinsya program worth P1.4M.
Other equipment to be turned by the sec. to the PGBh and BISU System is for the Bohol Soils and Water
Laboratory Center from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) to be constructed in BISU, Bilar
Campus.
The Assistant Provincial Agriculturist added that also in the program that Sec. Dar will sign the Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) between Gov. Art C. Yap regarding the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension
System (PAPES) programs for Bohol.
Bohol is one of the pilot provinces on PAPES program of the Department of Agriculture wherein according to Dar
could expect more projects to pour in.
Before leaving for Manila, the Secretary will launch the Kadiwa on Wheels at the old Tagbilaran City Airport at
1:30 p.m. selling indigenous fruits such as durian, marang, pomelo, rambutan, root crops and various vegetables at
low prices from Agbu Farmers’ Association, Davao Farmers’ Cooperative, First Consolidated Cooperative and the
Ulay Argo Enterprises.
The Kadiwa on Wheels will be participated also by the traders and entrepreneurs from Zamboanga Region that
will be selling fresh and dried fish.

The Ubi tubers from the Bohol Ubi Growers Association (BUGA) will also be sold at the old Tabilaran City
Airport.
On Tuesday, the Mobile Market will be going to Dauis, Albur, and Loay and on Wednesday at the Bohol
Agricultural Promotion Center (B-APC) for the market matching between the producers from regions 9 and 11 and
organized exhibitors of the ART Tabo sa Bohol and the Cooperatives have been engaging retailing program. (Atoy
Cosap)

DA Sec. Dar to arrive in Bohol Thursday

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar has confirmed to be in Bohol on Thursday for his three-day visit.

This would be the second visit of Sec. Dar this year in the province.

It may be recalled that last June 4, 2021, the secretary led the ceremonial turnover of P387 million worth of agri-fishery projects to the Boholano Farmers’ Cooperative Association (FCA) held at the 4^th Floor, Ceremonial Hall, New Capitol Building, Cogon, Tagbilaran City.

At the turnover ceremony, Dar stated that Bohol is one of the pilot provinces under the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES) Program of DA.

Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas and Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Officer (PATCO) Roman Dabalos said that as of now, there are no changes on the scheduled arrival of the secretary on Thursday and will fly back to Manila on Saturday afternoon.

Based on the tentative itinerary, the secretary upon his arrival will directly proceed to Alta Resort in Baclayon as keynote speaker during the National Assessment of Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES) to be attended by the Regional Directors (RDs) of the DA nationwide.

After his keynote speech, the secretary will lead in the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) together with Gov. Art Yap, RD 7 Joel Elumba and heads of the different line agencies who are involved with PAFES.

On Friday, Sec. Dar will lead in the ground breaking of the Coconut Hub Building to be constructed in Del Carmen Sur, Balilihan and the launching of the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) on the following day in Poblacion, Pilar wherein 5,000 Boholano farmers will receive P5,000 each as subsidy from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Dabalos explained that some 80,000 Boholano rice farmers who have tilled two hectares below of rice land who have been affected by the Rice Tariffication Law are entitled for this subsidy of which last year there were close to 60,000 farmers who received the subsidy.

Dabalos bared that on Saturday afternoon Sec. Dar will fly back to Manila for some engagements. (Atoy Cosap)