DUMAGUETE CITY – The World Bank, through the Negros Oriental provincial government, gave cash grants worth P6 million to two farmers’ cooperative in Negros Oriental to help increase their agricultural food production amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Negros Oriental, the P4-million cash grant to Baranagay Liptong Small Coconut Farmers Association (BLISCOFA) and P2-million cash grant to Canlaon City Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CCMPC) were given on Oct. 30 at the Provincial Capitol with Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo handing over the checks.

BLISCOFA's primary product is virgin coconut oil while the Canlaon City Multi-Purpose Cooperative’s main project is the production of native chickens. Degamo congratulated both cooperatives and encouraged them to use the financial aid properly, PIA said.

“I hope this helps your organization to prosper. May this bring happiness to a lot of your members,” Degamo added.

BLISCOFA official Edilberta Sogocio and Canlaon City Multi-Purpose Cooperative Manager Norberto Tamayo thanked the provincial government for guiding them during the process of applying for the cash grant and to the World Bank for providing them with the financial aid.

“Dako kaayo ning tabang ang inyong gihatag kanamo ug sa among miyembro aron kami magmalambuon aning among proyekto na paghimo ug virgin coconut oil na karon pod gikahinaman pod ni kay usa pod ni kontribusyon na maka-control or makaiwas ta aning Covid na atong gi-atubang karon,” Sogocio said.

(This is a big help for us and our members. This will boost the production of virgin coconut oil which is believed to help protect us from COVID)

“Karon adlaw among gidawat ang hinabang gikan sa aton Governor para sa atong project na native chicken. Kini amo ipasalig gikan karon adlawa na kining kwarta gihatag kanamo amo gayud gamiton sa insakto na pag-implementar sa amo proyekto,” Tamayo added.

(As we receive this financial help from the Governor which is intended for the advancement of our native chicken-raising project, we assure you that we will use the funds properly and solely for the implementation of this project)

Negros Oriental Provincial Agriculturist Nestor Villaflores explained that the grant was given under the World Bank Philippine Rural Development Project in support of local initiatives on food productivity and income enhancement of coconut farmers.

The national government and the provincial government have counterpart funds in the program. Villaflores said that the national government gave P1.2 million while the provincial government provided P1.3 million.

Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Jacinto Silot disclosed that there is a second tranche of the cash grant but they must implement the project first and liquidate their expenditures before they are to receive the second tranche.