“Agyamanan tayo ti panangipateg ti DA ti mannalon tayo… agyaman tayo met kadagiti mannalon - dakayo ti mangmangted ti biag ken kinabaknang ti komunidad tayo” - BM Amla during Sec. Laurel’s Kalinga Vis

Tabuk City – Board Member Julius Amla, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Agriculture of Kalinga PLGU, lauded the Department of Agriculture (DA) for its continued support to Kalinga farmers during the visit of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to the province on Friday, May 22.

Secretary Laurel led a series of agriculture-related activities aimed at strengthening government support for Kalinga’s farming sector.

The DA chief first visited the National Food Authority warehouse in Tabuk and the National Irrigation Administration – Kalinga before proceeding to the Kalinga Sports Complex for the main program.

At the sports complex, Laurel led the distribution of various farm machinery and agricultural assistance to several farmers’ cooperatives and associations across the province. He also spearheaded the rollout of the Benteng Bigas program in Kalinga.

Provincial officials led by Governor James Edduba, Vice-Governor Dave Odiem, Congresswoman Caroline Agyao, and Board Members Amla, Christopher Donaal, Emilio Kitongan, and Romeo Saclag welcomed the DA secretary and thanked the agency for responding to the needs of local farmers.

The provincial officials also appealed for funding support for several proposed agricultural projects, including the Rice and Corn Complex proposed by Governor Edduba.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, Amla described the assistance as timely and significant in helping boost farm production while ensuring access to affordable rice for vulnerable sectors.

“Kas Chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Agriculture, agyaman tayo ti Department of Agriculture iti panangipateg da kadagiti mannalon tayo ditoy Kalinga. Dagiti programa ken tulong da ket dakkel a suporta kadagiti mannalon tayo. Mangnamnama tayo nga adu pay nga tulong ti sumaruno and sapay koma ta dakkel maitulong dagita nga niited kadagiti pada tayo nga mannalon,” Amla said.

The board member also expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between the government and stakeholders would further strengthen Kalinga’s agriculture sector in the coming years.

When asked for his message to farmers, Amla recognized their sacrifices and vital role in sustaining food supply and local livelihoods in the province, echoing Vice Governor Odiem’s statement that farmers are the backbone of the economy.

“Kadagiti manalon tayo, taos-puso a panagyaman ti ipaabot mi kadakayo. Dakayo ti mangmangted ti biag ken kinabaknang iti komunidad tayo. Uray no narigat ti panagmula, agtultuloy kayo laeng. Kaskuna ni Vice Gov. tatay, dakayo ti backbone ti ekonomiya ti Kalinga. Agan-anus kayo lang, ububraem mi nga officials ti amin nga kabaelan mi tapno matulungan mi dakayo,” he relayed.

Amla also reaffirmed the commitment of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Agriculture to continue supporting policies and programs that promote farmers’ welfare and agricultural development in Kalinga.