KORONADAL, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Before 2022 ended, a farmer group in Antipas, Cotabato Province received more than P2 million worth of aid from the Department of Agriculture (DA) 12 for their dairy production project.
DA 12 turned over cattle, milk containers, various chemicals, lactating feeds, urea, and veterinary drugs worth P2.2 million in support of the community-based dairy production project in Antipas on December 20 under the government's Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program.
These aids were received by the Balik Probinsya Farmers Association of the said municipality.
Honeylene Carias, president of Balik Probinsya Farmers' Association in Antipas, said in an interview with Agri Tayo Soccskargen, that this is the largest aid their association has received so far.
"Lubos po ang aming pasalamat sa BP2 Program at sa Department of Agriculture dahil po sa inyong programa, malaki po ang naitulong sa amin, at nabago ang pamumuhay namin nang bumalik sa probinsya," Carias said.
Apart from the dairy production materials, Carias added, their organization has been beneficiary of several interventions from the agriculture department, including goat modules, swine, free range chicken, garden tools, vegetable seeds, assorted fruit trees, and many others.
According to a program briefer, BP2 program, "is geared towards addressing Metro Manila’s congested urban areas by encouraging people, especially informal settlers to return to their home provinces."
Under the program, government agencies provide support to ensure "the continuous improvement of economies and quality of life in the provinces...."
Carias, in the same interview, expressed gratefulness on behalf of the BP2 beneficiairies.
"Malaking tulong po siya sa aming mga BP2 beneficiaries. Lahat po ng interventions malaki po ang naitulong sa amin kung ikukumpara namin ang buhay sa urban at dito sa probinsya. Dito po sa probinsiya kahit magtanim ka lang nandiyan na ang pagkain, ang halaman, sa bakuran mo," she said. (with report from DA-RFO XII)
