CALBAYOG CITY-Mayor Ronaldo P. Aquino of this city personally turned over the “duo” farm equipment (tractor and thresher) to the Farmers’ Association of Barangay Bontay (an agricultural village located in Calbayog’s 2nd district) during a simple ceremony held on July 11. Said farm equipment was funded by the national government through the modernization and farm mechanization program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) with only a meager 15% counterpart from the recipient barangay amounting only to P35, 475.00 from its total amount of P200, 000.
This barangay counterpart was shouldered by the city government through Mayor Aquino with a condition that the Bontay Farmers’ Association will fund back said amount within three years for their own future use to procure additional farm equipment. In his message, Mayor Aquino stressed that what he’s only asking from the farmers is their diligence to farm that in return the city government will compensate through alleviating their conditions and raising their agricultural production.
For his part, Ronaldo Layaong, chairman of Bontay Farmers’ Association, called on the members’ support and cooperation especially in keeping custody of the farm equipment given to them.
This turnover of farm equipment to Bontay was also made possible by the City Agriculture Office headed by Adela Ocenar. Aside from the tractor and thresher, other farm interventions that Bontay is also set to receive from DA and the city government are shredder and a flat-bed dryer. The Bontay Farmers Association is composed of 28 members and is now a registered farmers’ cooperative with the Department of Labor and Employment. (AIMEE CATALAN/PR)
