DavSur provincial govt. continues agri-fishery program

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 30 (PIA) – The provincial government of Davao del Sur will continue this year to give focus on improving its agriculture and fishery program to upgrade the living of the farmers and fisherfolks in the province.

Marivic Hubac, executive assistant to Governor Claude Bautista, said the provincial government is set to specifically continue this year the coastal development program where fisherfolks are given the opportunity to own motorized banca (small fishing boats) through a special loan.

Hubac said the Banca Loan Program started implementation late 2013 with a total of 160 fisherfolks from Digos City, and municipalities of Sta. Cruz and Sta. Maria already benefiting from the project.

This year, she bared, the local government is preparing to distribute 100 bancas to the qualified beneficiaries in Malita and 150 fisherfolks in Don Marcelino, both of Davao Occidental province which is still under the administration of the governor of Davao del Sur.

The motorized banca loan amounting to P30,000 per unit is giving the beneficiaries the chance of paying at least PhP50 pesos a day, and to have it fully paid in less than two years.

Gov. Bautista has announced last year that not less than 2,500 fishing boats will be distributed to other coastal areas in the province until 2016.

For the farmers, Hubac said the provincial government is bent on pursuing projects centered on developing the rice production in the province.

She cited the irrigation system support through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to Magsaysay and Bansalan areas.

The provision of farm inputs, livelihood assistance and trainings have also been lined up to be undertaken this year.

Hubac said Department of Agriculture will also provide trainings to help farmers assure yielding good quality farm products.

She said that they have started organizing farmers in the upland areas to avail of the Plant Now Pay Later Program which is focused on rubber production.

A rubber nursery will be put up in selected barangays for this project, she added.

Another financial assistance program will involve the wives of the fisherfolks and farmers as beneficiaries.

Hubac said an assistance of P5,000 will each be given to qualified fisherfolk wives who are fish vendors, and P3,000 each to farmers’ wives who are retailing vegetables.

“In this way, the wives are encouraged to become small entrepreneurs,” she stated.

She said the local government has been vigorously pouring in various livelihood projects for residents in the coastal and rural areas because “the governor wants to ensure that his constituents could meet their daily needs.” (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)