CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) MIMAROPA is set to host a Post-SONA (State of the Nation Address) Forum on Thursday, October 10, at Oriental Mindoro National High School Gymnasium, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
This is the second Post-SONA Forum this year, initiated by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) through the PIA, which aims to further highlight the successful programs under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. following his SONA in July. The first was in Sultan Kudarat last September.
During this Forum here, the various support programs and services of the government to farmers and fisherfolk will be highlighted. The discussion will also center on sustainable agriculture and food security; livelihood opportunity interventions for fisherfolk; infrastructure support to farmers’ cooperatives; and the role of agrarian reform for rural development.
Over 250 farmers and fisherfolk, whose livelihood was affected by the El Niño and La Niña phenomena as well as the 2023 oil spill incident, are expected to join the forum. They will also receive assistance from various government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Irrigation Administration, and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.
Moreover, the forum also aims to bring government services closer to the Filipino people through a service caravan to be participated in by regional and provincial offices of national government agencies, including the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and PagIBIG Fund (HDMF).
During the “Serbisyo Caravan,” the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) MIMAROPA will sell the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) rice available at P29.00 per kilogram at 10 kg per bag. The cheaper but quality rice is targeted to be accessible for the vulnerable sector such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and solo parents.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) MIMAROPA will also open the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, which will promote local handicrafts and products, while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Oriental Mindoro will showcase the One Town, One Product (OTOP) of the micro, small, medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) to sell their locally-made products and various discounted items.
Key government officials, including DA Assistant Secretary Daniel Alfonso N. Atayde, PIA Director-General Katherine Chloe S. De Castro, and other top regional officials from national government agencies have confirmed their attendance. Local government officials will also be in attendance during the event here. (AS/PIA MIMAROPA)
