‘Dapat lahat ng members niyo magbenefit’ - DA-CAR offcial to organizations given farm machinery

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Cordillera who received brand-new farm machinery from the Department of Agriculture on October 10 were reminded by DA-CAR Regional Technical Director for Operations Danilo Daguio to take care of the assistance given them and that those must benefit all their members. 

Speaking during the Regional Ceremonial Awarding of Agri-Machinery at the office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) in Tabuk City, Kalinga, on said date, Daguio said the turnover symbolizes the government’s continued effort to help farmers improve productivity through mechanization.  

Daguio, representing DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilym Dawayan, told beneficiaries and the FCAs to ensure that the aid is valued and that it is not just the few who benefit, considering the interventions as not merely an assistance but as a “gift”.

“Anadan yo dayta nga maited kanyayo. I consider you a dagita nga gift. Ket nu regalo, kayat na nga sauwen nga diay nagited ket ipatpateg na dakayo. Ayaten yo met garud dayta nga regalo nga maited kanyayo. Haan koma nga sumagmamano laeng ti agnumnumar, nga haan laeng nga ni Presidente, nga ni chairman lang, ken gayem ni chairman,’ said Daguio. 

The DA official further stressed that the fund used for buying the machineries is part of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) or came from the tariffs collected from rice importers; thus, he said, the law is not useless. 

Funded through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program of the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech), the agricultural interventions benefitted 10 FCAs from Ifugao, Mt. Province, and Kalinga, which fully complied with the necessary requirements. 

For Mt. Province, the recipient is the St. Williams Multi-purpose Cooperative, while from Ifugao is the San Quintin Integrated Farmers Association of Ifugao. 

Meanwhile, beneficiaries from Kalinga include the Rio Chico Agriculture Cooperative (RCAC), the Luyukan Farmers Association, the Burayukan Pagrang-ayan Movement Incorporated, the Agriing Kayu Farmers Irrigation Association Inc., the Mannalon ti Babalag West Farmers Association, the Aluminit Santor Farmers Irrigators Association Inc., the Sangladan Community Organization of Agbannawag, and the Catao Nambaran Farmers Irrigators Association Inc.

Opag-Kalinga said the aid, which includes a four-wheel tractor and rice combine harvesters, aims to enhance productivity and global competitiveness, lower production costs, and reduce post-harvest losses of farmers.