In his speech, PhilMech Director Baldwin Jallorina explained that the machines were part of the PhilMech’s Php5 billion budget per year under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). “Ang RCEF ay nakapaloob sa Rice Tarrification Law na ang layunin ay palakasin ang mga magsasakang Pilipino para masundan ang pandaigdigang pansaka na may nakalaang pondo na Php10 billion per year sa anim na taon. Sa mechanization ay naglaan sila ng 50% o Php5 billion per year para pambili ng farm machines na ipamigay sa mga kooperatiba at irrigators associations sa buong bansa,” he said.

For the province of Isabela, Jallorina said that PhilMech allocated Php300-million plus for 2019 and 2020. “Sa 2019 budget ay naglaan kami ng Php183 million and another Php180 million para sa 2020 with a total of more than Php300 million,” Jallorina said.

He said that this is the second batch of recipients in the province of Isabela and that the 100 farmers’ associations were chosen not only for their good track record but of the unity they have shown and their ability to sustain current resources.

Jallorina said that the mechanization program will boost the morale of the millennials to venture into farming. “Ma-encourage natin iyong mga millennials, iyong mga anak natin na bumalik o tumulong sa mga trabaho sa bukid. Kasi sa pamamagitan ng mechanization ay gumagaan na ang ating mga trabaho, puwede ka na mag-araro ng naka-sapatos, at sa pagtatanim naman ay hindi na maghapong nakayuko sa pagtatanim,” he said.

Jallorina challenged the farmer-beneficiaries to sustain the utilization that will benefit their members and the society. “Hinihiling lang namin na pagyamanin, ingatan at huwag ipagdamot sa mga kapwa natin magsasaka nang sa gayon ay ma-attain natin ang objective na maitaas ang ani at kita ng ating mga magsasaka,” he added.

Meanwhile, Regional Director Narciso Edillo of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 2 lauded the Provincial Government of Isabela for their full support to the agriculture department in times of calamities and disasters. “Nagpasalamat ako sa Provincial Government sa inyong tulong sa amin sa Department of Agriculture na kapag ganito na may crisis, nakahanda kayo na mag-counterpart lalong-lao na iyong pagbili ng palay sa NFA. Saludo po ako sa Provincial Government sa pag-allocate ninyo ng pondo sa pagtulong sa ating mga magsasaka,” he said.

 

The former Senator congratulated the PGI for the I-RISE program which can be a model for other places. “Napakagandang programa ito na mabigyan ng tulong lalo na yun mga maliliit. At tama itong ginagawa dito sa probinsiya”, he said.

Governor Rodito thanked the former Senator for his presence in the province and the donations given by the Marcos family for the flood victims. He also recalled the important project of the late President Marcos in the province and in the entire Cagayan Valley which includes the Magat Dam as the first dam in Southeast Asia. “Ngayon araw na ito tanggapin niyo itong munting tulong ng ating Kapitolyo para sa inyo, inilaan namin ni Gov. Bojie Dy yan at babalik pa kami ulit para magdala na naman ng ayuda at biyaya sa inyong lahat hanggang Christmas magdadala kami dito at babalik balik kami para ihantid sa inyo ang ating mga tulong” he said.

A total of 913 beneficiaries received financial loan assistance and rice from the PGI during the distribution held at the Gamu and Naguilian Community Center.