Ilocos Norte farmers get cash aid from DA

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

LAOAG CITY—Over 2,000 rice farmers from Ilocos Norte received cash assistance worth PHP5,000 each on Monday courtesy of the Department of Agriculture.

The farmer-beneficiaries include those who were affected by low price of palay or un-milled rice due to the government’s Rice Tariffication Law. The first batch of Ilocano farmers came from Laoag, Bacarra, Badoc and Solsona.

In Ilocos Norte, the DA through the concerned local government units had identified a total of 19,000 beneficiaries of the Rice Farmer Financial Assistance Program.

During the distribution program held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, DA Regional Director Lucrecio Alviar Jr. said the cash assistance is unconditional.

“Hindi po ito pautang. Ito ay dagdag ayudang pinansyal para sa mga Ilokanong magsasaka,” Mr. Alviar told farmers.

Under the directive of the Duterte administration, the DA, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) signed a memorandum of agreement last December 2019, which set aside Php3 billion for the RFFA program to benefit around 600,000 rice farmers nationwide. The eligible farmers till between one and a half to two hectares.

“We are thankful for the cash assistance. This will help us in our needs,” said Robert Jose as he is one of the first beneficiaries who withdrew the amount through a mobile Automated Teller Machine of the LANDBANK.

The initial funding for the said program came from excess government revenue.

This year, another PHP3 billion will be allocated to the program, to be divided equally between LBP and DBP to disburse to 300,000 rice farmers each.

Funding for next year will be sourced from tariff collections in excess of the Php10 billion required to finance the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Comments

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog