• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An amount of P17.7 million in financial aid, under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolks and their Families, was distributed by the provincial government of Negros Occidental to 1,775 farmers in the 1st and 4th district of the province on July 17 and 18.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the distribution of PAFFF assistance to 1,243 farmer beneficiaries in municipalities of Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, Toboso, and cities of San Carlos and Escalante in the 1st district of Negros Occidental, distributing a total of P12,430,000 on July 17.
The next day, Lacson also led the giving of P5,350,000 PAFFF assistance to 535 farmer-beneficiaries in the 4th district of Negros Occidental, composed of the cities of Bago and La Carlota, and the towns of Pontevedra,San Enrique, Pulupandan, and Valladolid.
The financial aid forms part of the P50 million PAFFF assistance given to the provincial government of Negros Occidental during the recent visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the province. On the other hand, Bacolod City received P10 million.
Both the provincial government and highly urbanized Bacolod City were given a deadline of one month to distribute the financial assistance to intended beneficiaries.
Each farmer-beneficiary got P10,000 each, aside from the food packs given from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
Also on July 18, Lacson distributed P1.1 million worth of floating tiller units to 12 farmer associations in the provinces, with the turnover held at Negros First Organic Technology Center (NFOTeC) in Bago City.
The farmer-beneficiaries were briefed on the operation, rules, use, and maintenance of the said farm machinery, followed by a machine demo, facilitated by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
The project beneficiaries are Tuy-anan Farmers Association (Don Salvador Benedicto), Camao Farmers SWISA (Calatrava), Canlusong Proper SWISA (E.B. Magalona), Binintigan Farmers and Rural Farm Workers Association (Victorias City), Gloria Ilimnan ARB Farmers Association (Murcia), Pandanon Silos Farmers Association (Murcia), Sandungao SWISA (Bago City), Siga-siga Agrarian Reform Farmers Association (La Castellana), Had. Jardiolin ARB (Moises Padilla), Brgy. Culipapa CEMECO SWISA (Hinoba-an, Daug SWISA (Hinoba-an), Dangula Culipapa Farmers (Hinoba-an), and Federation of Irrigators Association – Central Negros.
The floating tiller is a walking-type agricultural tractor commonly used in waterlogged fields. It is equipped with front-mounted tilling wheels and a flotation structure.
The multi-purpose farming tool is designed to be portable and simple for fast and efficient land preparation, useful in deep and mudded fields.
Lacson thanked the farmers for their efforts in the implementation of the food security and agricultural productivity agenda of the provincial government, according to a statement issued by the provincial government Public Information Office.*