TUBURAN, Cebu (PIA7) — A total of 350 coffee and regular farmers received around P5 million worth of government assistance during the Post-SONA Forum held in this town on Nov. 8.
The farmers who attended the forum come from 35 barangays here.
With the theme “Cultivating Agriculture for Tourism Development and Opportunities under a New Philippines,” the Post-SONA Forum is implemented by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
During the forum, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed a total of 1,050 seedlings, which includes fruit trees, herbs, and bananas.
DA also distributed pest control products, including 100 boxes of earwigs, 20 packs of Metarhizium to control insect pests in crops, and 5 packs of Trichogramma as a biological control agent for managing pest populations in corn and vegetables.
DA also turned over a tractor amounting to P1,640,000 to the municipality through the First Consolidated Cooperative of Tuburan, which can be used by their farming constituents.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) also gave insurance for crops, livestock, and other assets that are used for farming, or a non-crop insurance, as well as insurance for the registered farmers.
At least 10 farmers also received indemnity checks amounting to P44,668.
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) also turned over Certificates of Entitlement to the Municipality of Tuburan for a total of 7,150 hybrid coconut seedlings for 150 hectares.
This is under the Coconut Hybridization Program under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) CY 2025.
In the same forum, the Department Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released a total of P1,050,00 as financial aid for the farmers in the town under the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
DSWD-7 also awarded assistance under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to six associations, namely: P420,000 for Tub-Cogon Kabene Association; P270,000 for Gimama-a Nagkahugpong Association; P360,000 for Montealegre Agri Growers Association; P255,000 for Colonia Agri Producer Association; P450,000 Purok Panaghiusa Livelihood Association; and 450,000 for Purok Tambis Upland Workers Association.
The total SLP released amounted to a total of P2,205,000.
Agricultural and tourism development
The Post-SONA Forum in Tuburan is the third in a series of fora nationwide that aims to further stress and substantiate the pronouncements made by Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22, where the importance of the tourism sector is lauded as a source of job generation among many Filipinos.
“Ito ay isang pagkakataon upang ipaabot ang mga serbisyo at programa ng pamahalaan at para suportahan na rin ang pangangailangan ng bawat Pilipino,” said PIA Director General Katherine Chloe de Castro in her message during the forum.
(This is the opportunity to deliver the services and programs of the government and also support the needs of every Filipino).
In response, Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante expressed his gratitude that his town has been chosen as the venue of the 3rd Post-SONA forum.
“Salamat PIA nga dinhi ninyo gi-hold ang Post-SONA… aron matagamtaman sa katawhan labi na gyud sa atong pobreng mag-uuma kay kini naka-focus kini sa agrikultura,” Diamante said.
(Thank you, PIA, because you held the Post-SONA here… so the people can enjoy and take advantage [of the services and assistance] especially for our poor farmers because this focuses on agriculture.)
The farmers and other residents in the town also availed of the the services provided by various government agencies at the sidelines of the forum, such as free pneumococcal vaccines of the Department of Health (DOH), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearances, birth or marriage certificates from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), free haircut from the Visayas Command – Armed Forces of the Philippines (VISCOMM), and driver’s license and vehicle registration from the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
The FCCT, Santa Rita Asturias Irrigators Association, and Talavera, Toledo, Pump Irrigators Association (TTPIA) also set up a “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” booth that offered affordable fruits and vegetables.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) also brought 350 sacks of 10 kilos of rice sold at P29 per kilo for members of the vulnerable sector, such as the senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWD) under the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) program.
Diamante said the event is proof of the President’s unwavering commitment to realize what he has promised during the recent SONA.
“Dili lang kaayo nato makita tungod dako kaayo ang Pilipinas… but considering nga atong pinalanggang presidente naningkamot para natong tanan, mao nga ania ta karon,” Diamante said.
(We may not be able to witness (the efforts of the President) because the Philippines is big, but our dear President continues to work hard for all of us, that is why we are here.)
Farmer Joel Saludar, 43, a resident of Barangay Kabankalan, thanked the government for bringing the government services and programs to their towns.
“Dako kaayo mi’g pasalamat sa Presidente nga nakita bisan pa sa among kalayo sa lungsod sa Tuburan,” Saludar said.
(We are so grateful to the President because we were still able to benefit even if we are so far here in Tuburan.)
“Dako kaayo namo’g pasalamat sa mga government agencies nga nisupport usab diri sa mga farmers, dili lang unta sa Tuburan kini mahitabo lakip na sa tibuok nasud na pilipinhon nga unta magmalambuon ang mga farmers,” he added.
(We are so grateful to the government agencies for their support to the farmers. May this not only happen in Tuburan but also in the entire Philippines so that the farmers may prosper.)
Saludar is also thankful to the government for providing farmers with trainings on proper farming.
“Dako kaayo namo’g pasalamat nga gihatagan gyud og pagtagad ang farmers diin sa pag-educate ug pag-gabay nila kung unsaon ang saktong pagpanguma,” he said.
(We are so grateful that the farmers are given attention and have given education and guidance on proper farming.) (JJT/PIA 7 Cebu)
