ILOILO – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently led the distribution of P37.9 million worth of modern farm machinery and fishing boats to more than 30 farmers’ and fisherfolk associations in Iloilo, a move seen to strengthen local food production and speed up recovery from recent crop losses due to floods and typhoons.
The ceremonial turnover, held alongside the inauguration of the rehabilitated Iloilo Fish Port Complex on Aug. 13, underscored the government’s renewed push to modernize agriculture and fisheries.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. joined the President in presenting the equipment, which included tractors, combine harvesters, rice and corn mills, forage choppers, corn shellers, hammer mills, and fiberglass fishing boats with 13-HP engines.
Among the beneficiaries ws the New Lucena Credit Cooperative, composed of nearly 80 members, which received a forage chopper valued at over P100,000.
“This project is for New Lucena Credit for 2025. It will help in feeding goats, as you can process corn or ipil-ipil for fodder,” said Maria Lisa Mayandia of the cooperative.
She added: “We are thankful to BBM. This program is a big help at the farmer level, and of course to our cooperative that was given livelihood support, reaching all farmers.”
The Lino Flores Farmers Association of Tigbauan, with more than 100 members, received a tractor and a combine harvester to support its 200-hectare operations.
“Thank you very much Mr. President for your help, especially for these two units of machinery. These will really benefit our 101 hectares, and more than 200 hectares can now be covered,” said association president Lino Flores.
Leah Jabagat, president of the Del Castillo Community Association, which received a P350,000 corn sheller, highlighted its importance for post-harvest: “This is very helpful to us farmers, especially in corn production. During the rainy season, without this, our corn will rot.”
The support also extended to fisherfolk, with two associations in Binon-an receiving 20-foot fiberglass boats with engines to improve their fishing reach and efficiency.
To further aid recovery, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) distributed indemnity checks worth P96,446.08 to rice and corn farmers whose livelihoods were devastated by monsoon floods and Typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong.
Officials said the combined interventions aim not only to protect the livelihoods of Iloilo’s farmers and fisherfolk but also to reinforce the province’s role in ensuring food security for Western Visayas./PN
Here’s the list of beneficiaries:
* Barangay Sta. Teresa Farmers Association
* Calinog Corn Farmers Association
* Katilingban Sang Mga Nagahiliusa Nga Mangunguma Sa Leon Iloilo, Inc.
* Quipot Corn Growers Association
* Matabanaco Cluster Association
* Barangbang Farmers Association
* Juaneza Integrated Farmers Association
* Del Castillo Community Association
* Latawan Small Farmers Association
* Muyco Upland Farmers Association
* Bita Sur Farmers Association
* Calam-Isan Farmers Association (Camifa)
* Rizalian Farmers Association
* Santa Monica Farmers Association
* Sta. Clara Farmers Association
* Banaba Tigbauan Irrigator’s Association, Inc.
* Lino Flores Farmers Association
* Duyan-Duyan Farmers Association
* Asosasyon Sang Manguguma Sa Poblacion
* Barangay Tipacla Farmers Association
* Pasig Integrated Farmers Association
* Municipal Local Government Unit Of Calinog
* East West Janipaan Mina Irrigators Association
* Quisan Irrigators Association
* Bita Norte Farmers Association
* Cordova Dur Farmer Association
* Bangkal Farmers Association Lgu Oton
* LGU-Leon
* LGU-Batad
* LGU-Cabatuan
* LGU-Carles
* Capinayan Corn Farmers Marketing Cooperative
* New Lucena Credit Cooperative
* Pavia Livestock Growers Association
* Northern Binon-an Fisherfolk Association
* Southern Binon-an Fisherfolk Association/PN
