The Department of Agriculture in Bicol (DA-5) distributed PHP122 million worth of agricultural interventions to various farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Camarines Sur during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the province on March 7, 2025.

In a media release on Monday, the agency said DAR-5 Regional Executive Director Rodel Tornilla led the distribution of interventions consisting of farm machinery, inputs, hauling trucks, and motorized boats to some 76 farmers’ cooperatives and associations from Camarines Sur province, whose representatives were present during the event.

Under the Rice Program, the DA turned over PHP14.6 million worth of interventions, including three units of rice transplanters, two grain collectors, two floating tillers, 10 walking-type tractors, three rice transplanters, six threshers, two reapers, one mobile rice mill, two 4-wheel drive (4WD) tractors, 1,000 bags of certified palay seeds, and 225 packs of biofertilizer.

The Corn Program has provided PHP26.5 million worth of interventions, including four 4WD tractors, two combine harvesters, two hauling trucks, 60 bags yellow corn seeds, and 19,500 cassava stalks.

The Livestock and Poultry Program turned over PHP66.8 million worth of projects, including the establishment of slaughterhouses, four animal hauling trucks, and 11 modules of chicken layer projects under the Establishment of Livelihood Opportunities and Viable Enterprise or LOVE for Agricultural Farming Communities.

Under the High Value Crops Development Program quick response fund, 84 sets under tools, assorted vegetable seeds, and farm equipment worth PHP2.3 million were turned over to seven FCAs.

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization also turned over three units of 4WD tractors worth a total of PHP6.89 million, funded under the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund to three FCAs.

The Philippine Coconut Authority distributed 400 seedlings of hybrid coconut.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration turned over one hauling truck worth PHP3.9 million.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources distributed six motorized fiberglass boats with complete accessories, seaweed farm implements and tilapia farm inputs, with a total worth of PHP730,500.

Meanwhile, the Kadiwa ng Pangulo was one of the highlights of the event, where the DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division invited 30 exhibitors who displayed various agricultural products at the venue.

The National Irrigation Administration also sold 700 bags of 10-kilogram packs priced at PHP29/kilo to the vulnerable sector. Meanwhile, the San Agustin, San Ramon Farmers’ Cooperative of Bula also sold rice at PHP35.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo garnered total sales of PHP581,336 during the one-day event.

The turnover was part of the Trabaho at Serbisyong Pangkalusugan sa Bagong Pilipinas initiative, a collaboration among the DA, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Health. (PNA)