The provincial government of La Union distributed from Oct. 3-9 agricultural machinery worth PHP15.5 million to about 82 farmers’ cooperatives, associations, learning sites, and farm schools in various municipalities in the province.

The farmers’ groups and other recipients are from the towns of Balaoan, Bangar, Bacnotan, City of San Fernando, Luna, San Gabriel, San Juan, Santol, Agoo, Aringay, Bagulin, Bauang, Caba, Naguilian, Pugo, Sto. Tomas, and Rosario.

Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) officer in charge Sharon Viloria, in a statement on Wednesday, said 102 units of farm machinery and equipment were distributed to help increase farmers’ efficiency and productivity and ensure food security in the province.

These include eight shredders, 15 multi-cultivators, 28 hand tractors, 44 pump and engine sets, four portable rice mills, one corn sheller, one rice transplanter, and a forage chopper.

The PAG also distributed seeds to rice farmers affected by Typhoon Egay.

Villoria said the program is under the Farm Mechanization and Supply Support Program and funded by Republic Act 7171 or the province’s share of the Tobacco Excise Tax of 2022.

The province was allocated about PHP1.5 billion share from its excise tax in the production of locally manufactured Virginia-type cigarettes and PHP105.6 million Burley and Native type based on the data of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“This will surely help the farmers improve their agricultural operations and give ease in their work. My appeal is that they use this equipment with extra care and may they also use these to help their fellow farmers,” Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David said in a statement. (PNA)