Various interventions amounting to PHP57.1 million were provided by the Department of Agriculture to farmers and fisherfolk groups in the island province of Catanduanes earlier this week (Wednesday).

In a phone interview on Friday, Lovella Guarin, DA-5 spokesperson, said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel personally distributed farm inputs, farming machinery, and insurance indemnification checks.

Up to 1,198 bags of hybrid palay seeds for hybrid clusters, along with soil ameliorants and biofertilizers worth a total of PHP17.7 million, were received by the different municipal local government units.

Caritas Virac Justice and Peace Inc. was awarded PHP5.6 million in the Livestock Economic Enterprise Development project.

At least PHP2.5 million worth of lowland vegetable seeds, malunggay seeds, bamboo and pili planting materials, organic fertilizer, and Gulayan sa bayan and barangay projects were given to schools in the province from the High Value Crops Development Program.

From the Organic Agriculture Program, 12 farmers’ cooperatives and associations received various interventions worth PHP5.1 million.

The National Urban and Peri Urban Agriculture distributed PHP250,342 worth of farm inputs.

From the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture program, the Barangay Asuncion Purok 1 Farmers Association received a PHP4 million worth of a multi-commodity processing center.

PhilMech brought six 4-wheel tractors worth a total of PHP14.3 million for Catanduanes.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources distributed PHP1.3 million worth of motorized fiberglass boats with complete accessories, tilapia fingerlings, and gill nets.

It released the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk to 1,323 fishermen in the province.

The Philippine Crops Insurance Corporation distributed PHP1.1 million indemnity checks to 176 farmers.

The PhilFIDA has PHP2.9 million worth of Abaca Spindle Stripping Machinen to 10 associations and an Abaca Drying Facility worth PHP1 million. (PNA)