ILOILO CITY – The agricultural and fisheries sectors in Iloilo recently received P909.68 million in assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (center) distributes aid to a farmer’s group in Iloilo. (DA-6)
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. distributed the aid in a ceremony during a recent visit to Iloilo.
These were:
- P885.5 million for various local government units (LGUs) to boost agri-fishery infrastructure projects under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).
- P11.24-million worth of equipment such as rice transplanters, rice combine harvesters, and single-pass rice mills as part of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech). Funding was taken from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
- P8.5 million for Kadiwa financial gants. This links four farmers group to a State university for technical assistance.
- P2 million for the fisheries sector via attached agency Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-6 for the procurement of fishing gear and marine engines.
- P1.9-million for 392 farmers via the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA). Recipients received P5,000 each.