Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar on Wednesday opened five farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in Soccsksargen (Region 12).

The FMRs worth PHP 44-million were funded under the Farm-to-Market Road Development Program (FMRDP) Fiscal Year 2019 and 2020 with a total length of 3.0 kilometers. These projects were in Barangays San Jose, Upper Labay, Mabuhay, Katangawan and Tinagacan in General Santos City.

On Tuesday, the DA chief also led the distribution of various farm interventions amounting to PHP77.74 million to benefit farmers in South Cotabato Province.

In a Facebook post, the DA said the interventions include PHP318,500-worth transplanter and rice thresher from the Rice Program, and PHP162,280-worth upland rice seeds and vegetable seeds for the Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks).

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) also awarded three rice combine harvesters, 10 four-wheel-drive tractors, and walk-behind transplanter amounting to PHP19.46 million.

Meanwhile, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) turned over checks amounting to PHP57.8 million to lending conduits.

ASF test kits

Apart from this, the DA through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), procured approximately PHP4 million worth of Laboratory Equipment and African swine fever (ASF) test kits to the Regional Animal Disease Diagnosis Laboratory of DA Regional Field Office 12 in a ceremonial turnover ceremony on Tuesday in General Santos City.

“The need for the close collaboration of the private sector, local government units, and the DA through the Regional Field Office and the BAI for the effective control of the disease should be prioritized,” Dar said in his message.

In a report, General Santos City Veterinarian Dr. Antonio Ephrem Marin said despite the difficulty in the prevention of entry of ASF, some 2,500 kilograms of pork, 199 live hogs and 8,051 kgs. of processed products have been confiscated from October 2019 to October 2021. (PNA)