CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – For the last three years, Gov. Dennis Pineda has supported the province’s farmers through his agricultural programs and partnerships with government agencies.
Data obtained from the Provincial Agriculture Office show the provincial government assisting farmers from rehabilitation efforts to providing them machineries, seeds and farm animals.
In partnership with the Department of Agriculture, the Capitol distributed 392 machineries to different farmer-cooperatives in Pampanga, while some 5,000 farmers received P5,000 cash assistance through the DA’s Rice Farmers Financial Assistance.
Under Pineda’s term, some 120,000 vegetable seeds have benefited upland communities along with 20,000 certified fruit-bearing trees that were distributed to Aeta farmers and communities.
Additional 500 farmers also received P25,000 under the Expanded Sure Aide program that was aimed at helping marginal farmers and fishers adversely affected by the enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was also made possible through the DA and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
Pineda’s close coordination for the rehabilitation of the affected sectors from the dreaded Asian swine fever have enabled the release of 800 pigs, 500 cows, 500 goats and 400 carabaos to farmer-beneficiaries.
Irrigator associations have also received assistance and support in improving the province’s irrigation systems.
“Malaki ang naitutulong sa amin ni governor. Kamukha niyan, pinahiram kami ng backhoe, hindi siya nagdalawang salita, antimano, inaksyunan kami. Kaya napakalaki ng pasasalamat namin sa kanya, ‘yung mga magsasaka rito, hindi na mamomroblema dahil sa pinahiram niya,” Barangca Irrigators Association president Dante Catacutan said.
Farmers also lauded the governor for the machineries that have benefitted members of various cooperative beneficiaries.
Miyabe-yabe Lacmit Multipurpose Cooperative chairman Aquino Gozun said the provincial government provided tractors and shallow tube wells (STW) that improved the farming outputs of local farmers.
“Sa provincial government, simula kay Nanay, may naitulong na rin sa amin, itong isang traktora, naibigay sa amin, binigyan kami ng mini-tractor. Kay Governor Dennis, mayro’n din, ‘yung mga STW at siguro marami pa, baka ‘di ko na lang maalala, marami ring naitulong ang provincial government,” Gozun said.
