Farmers here were provided with free rice seeds and fertilizer by the city government and the Department of Agriculture.

The farmers, who are included in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, were given two kinds of rice seeds – certified inbred and hybrid seeds.

In a social media post on Thursday, Mayor Cristy Angeles said the distribution of rice seeds was under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and the National Rice Program that supports inbred and hybrid farmers.

Angeles said farmers also received fertilizer under the RCEF.

“Ang ratio po ng farmer is two bags per hectare ang tatanggapin niya. Meron din po tayong ipinamimigay na certified seeds na na-distribute natin. This is the assistance coming from the national government (The farmer will receive a ratio of two bags per hectare. We also distributed certified seeds. This is the assistance coming from the national government),” she said.

Angeles said some 4,000 bags of certified inbred rice seeds, 1,470 bags of hybrid rice seeds, and more than 2,000 bags of fertilizer have been distributed to the farmers.

She noted that with the agricultural inputs, farmers are assured that they have free seeds and fertilizer to use.

“Tinamaan na naman kami ng bagyo. Buti na lang may subsidiya na naman ang gobyerno. Malaki ang utang na loob, lalong-lalo na ng Barangay San Manuel, para sa tulong na nakuhang ito (The typhoon hit us again. It is good that the government has again provided subsidies. We are very grateful, especially Barangay San Manuel, for the help we received),” farmer, Felipe Patdu Jr., said.

“Sa ating mga magsasaka, huwag lang po tayong susuko. Tuloy-tuloy po nating gawin ang dapat nating trabahuhin (To our farmers, do not give up. Let us continue to do what we have to do) and the city government, rest assured, is always here to support you in all your needs,” Angeles said. (PNA)