To support the rice farmers in their farm input needs and cope-up with the increasing prices of fertilizers, the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7) distributed fertilizer discount vouchers (FDV) to some 498 rice farmers from Toledo City and Pinamungajan on April 8, 2025.
The simultaneous distribution of FDV, in a form of inorganic fertilizers (14-14-14) has a total amount of P 1,113,232.00 funded under the Rice Program. The fertilizers were intended for the dry season cropping. Of the 498 farmers, 259 farmers were from Pinamungajan in an amount of P475, 038.00, while 239 farmer beneficiaries from Toledo City amounting to P 638,194.00.
Facilitated by DA7’s Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office in Cebu (PATCO-Cebu), in coordination with the Local Government Units (LGUs) Pinamungahan and Toledo City ensured the smooth and efficient distribution process.
Ernesto Pamulagan, President of SIPOLAFA, thanked the the President and DA7 for the support given to the rice farmers, as this will encourage them (farmers) to continue in their agricultural endeavors.
“Pasalamat ko og dako sa DA, hilabi na sa kasamtangang administrasyon sa ilang kanunayng supprta kanamong mga farmers nga maka encourage namo nga magpadayun sa among pagpanguma”, he said.
(I’m deeply grateful to DA, especially to the current administration, for their constant support to us farmers, which encouraged us to continuing farming.)
Cecil Camomot, a Local Farmer Technician (LFT) from Toledo City shared the benefits of the assistance received, saying “sa wala paning mga ayuda sir, gagmay ra jud among production kay mahal sad gyud baya ning mga abono ug binhi. Pero sa dihang naabot na kaning mga ayuda gikan sa gobyerno, sa DA, dako gyud ang kalahian, labi pud nakaapil kami og mga training, farming schools, nakahibaw nasad mi sa mga teknolohiya, nilambo jud among panguma.”
(Before this assistance, sir, our production was very low because the cost of fertilizers and rice seeds are very expensive. But when the government’s assistance arrived, through the DA, we experienced significant differences. We also participated in training and farming schools, where we learned new technologies, and our farming has truly improved.)
