MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – In line with Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go’s initiative of providing assistance to market vendors of Bukidnon, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) has given out 1,200 (5-in-1) packets of assorted vegetable seeds to said beneficiaries on January 5, 2021.
In separate turn overs held in Malaybalay City, Kitaotao and Quezon, the department has handed out said provisions amounting P156,000 in three variants: chopsuey, pinakbet and sinigang.
DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness and Marketing, Kristine Y. Evangelista and DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado handed the certificate of turnover of the P5 million financial grant to the Kahusayan Consumers Cooperative in Kitaotao, Bukidnon under DA’s Enhanced Kadiwa Inclusive Food Supply Chain program.
In support to their Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita operations, the cooperative will receive a hauling truck (P2.4 million), building (P2 million), working capital (P500,000) and other equipment (P100,000).
Asec. Evangelista encouraged other cooperatives to avail of the agency’s enhanced Kadiwa program by saying, “Ang agrikultura ay hindi lamang pagtatanim, kailangang mapaikot natin [ang pera] kaya dapat matuto tayong magnegosyo.”
Meanwhile, attendees of the event also received food packs, face masks and shields, and vitamins from Senator Bong Go while select participants received bicycles which they could use given the limited transportation during this pandemic as well as tablet computers which their children could use for their education.
Go shared, said initiative aims to bring the government closer to its people most especially, “Market vendors are one of those who are greatly affected because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” remarked the senator.
Apart from DA, the event was also participated by other government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), who also provided assistance to said beneficiaries.
The event was also graced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Secretary Martin M. Andanar, and local officials Provincial Governor Jose Maria R. Zubiri, Jr., Malaybalay City Mayor Florencio T. Flores, Jr. and Vice Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran. # # # (AMBManto/DA-RFO X, RAFIS)
