SENATOR Imee Marcos earlier today, July 20 participated in a significant event in Cagayan de Oro City.
She even gave a helping hand to farming in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental by providing a large number of funds. The money is about 641.2 million pesos.
This will help local farmers, make sure there’s plenty of food, and help grow the economy in the area, according to Marcos.
“I truly believe that Mindanao is the future of our country. Even though I come from Luzon and represent Region 8 and the Visayas, I know that Mindanao will be essential in the coming years,” said Marcos.
The money will be used for many different things to help farming.
This includes building new farming facilities, giving out high-quality seeds and farm equipment, teaching farmers new skills, and bringing in new farming technologies.
For the different projects of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other similar groups, Marcos and DA-10 regional director Carlene Collado gave a certificate promising 396,245,000 pesos to the local government of Misamis Oriental. The governor, Peter Unabia, accepted it.
Also, to make farming more modern and help improve the lives and incomes of the people in rural areas, they gave another 126,603,000 pesos to the local government.
Unabia received a total of 522,848,000 pesos for farming help.
The city government of Cagayan de Oro also received 118,362,000 pesos.
Of this, 82,703,000 pesos will be used for the DA’s programs and projects.
The city is also getting 35,659,000 pesos for its Fisheries Development Program, Imported, and Local Dairy Cattle Dispersal Program, distribution of certified inbred rice seeds, and Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) fertilizers, seeds, and equipment.
“These projects will not only help the economy but also improve the lives of farmers and their families,” said Marcos adding that this will have a big positive effect on the whole community.
The local government of Misamis Oriental, represented by Unabia, said they are grateful and that the significant amount of money shows the benefits of working together.
The people who received the money promised to use it properly and believe it will help achieve food security, reduce poverty, and develop the rural areas in the region.
Lilian Antigua, one of the beneficiaries from Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City, said she is thankful because the project has helped improve their livelihood.
It has also helped them sell their products in many places because of Kadiwa.
Marcos also mentioned that they have set aside more money for the budget of 2023.
This includes funds for Magsaysay's local government unit (LGU), Canitoan Farmers (CAFAMCO), and Tagpangui.
Additionally, the Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) will provide 2.733 million pesos in financial help to rice farmers and marine engines for two fisherfolk representatives worth P264,000.
Marcos also has a program for young farmers under 30 years old, the Young Farmers Challenge Fund.
The young farmers can get a grant for a new farming business, whether it’s new products or new technologies, or new ways to sell products.
“If they do well, they can get even more money,” she said.
The senator also urged young farmers to learn new farming.
As the event wrapped up, Marcos, along with other local leaders, ceremonially passed on the main farming projects to representatives from farmer groups and agricultural organizations. (With Rechtie Paculba of PIA-10)
