DA releases P130 million worth of aid to CAR farmers

MANILA, Philippines — The government has turned over P130 million worth of financial aid, equipment and irrigation projects to farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to boost their vegetable output and improve post-harvest facilities.

“We recognize the Cordillera Region’s contributions as the producer of almost 80 percent of highland vegetables in the country,” Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

“To further enhance the region’s output, we are turning over P417,000 worth of farm machinery to three farmer cooperatives and associations in the Mountain Province,” Laurel said during a meeting with DA officials, farmers, traders and other workers at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center.

According to the DA, the funds will come from the Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-up, which has invested P2.73 billion in 104 completed infrastructure and enterprise sub-projects in the six provinces of the CAR.

“Three infrastructure sub-projects worth P454 million and one enterprise sub-project worth P13.9 million are expected to be completed this year,” Laurel said.

In terms of enterprise development, the Agriculture Secretary said that the DA’s rural development program for CAR has a portfolio of 59 completed sub-projects worth P170 million that are now benefitting 74 proponent groups and farmers cooperatives.

“The assistance we’re providing is seen to promote sustainable growth through better production, processing, marketing and distribution of high-value crops,” he said.

Laurel said cold storage facilities would be built in several areas including Benguet, La Union, Taguig, Mindoro and in Sariaya, Quezon to dramatically extend the shelf-life of highland vegetables.

Meanwhile, P82.9 million worth of rice production and post-harvest equipment and facilities were awarded to local government units in Kalinga and Ifugao.

The amount was sourced from the mechanization budget of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund that is administered by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.