LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT. The social distancing requirement limits the number of carabaos and their new owners captured in the photo. In the foreground, second and third from left, are Agriculture Region 7 Director Salvador Diputado and Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, who led the distribution of 60 heads of carabaosalong with feedstuffto as many farmer beneficiaries, with Bohol APC representatives. Photo: Aris Aumentado’s Facebook Page
Rep. Aris taps DA for carabaos,
fertilizers for 2nd district farmers
By JUNE S. BLANCO
NO PDAF? No problem!
Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado has tapped the Department of Agriculture (DA) for farm inputs for the farmers in the 2nd District.
This negates the need for the controversial but now defunct Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), a discretionary fund used to be available to members of Congress.
Instead, Aumentado scouted for programs of different departments and national government agencies that have funds for qualified beneficiaries, and complied with requirements to facilitate the release.
One such program is the Special Area for Agriculture Development (SAAD) that, Aumentado explained, gave hope to his constituents now reeling from the effects of quarantine brought on by the corona virus disease (CoViD-19).
Aumentado expressed gratitude to Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Region 7 Director Salvador Diputado and Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center Manager Roman Dabalos for facilitating the release of the assistance.
Only last Tuesday, Aumentado, Diputado and Dabalos turned over 60 heads of carabaos to as many selected farmers in barangays Saguise, Campao Oriental, Taytay, Sto. Niño, Cabasakan and Cangmundo all in Getafe, witnessed by local officials led by Mayor Casey Shaun Camacho.
The carabao package included feedstuff comprised of one bag of rice bran, two bags of Pollard and two containers of molasses for each farmer, totaling P1.8 million. The carabaos, it was learned, are not the native kind, hence, the starter feeds.
Juvenile and mature carabaos can plow rice fields, pull sleds to transport fertilizers, and other farm inputs as well as the palay harvest. As bonus, the females produce offspring and milk.
DA also provided complementary inputs to the carabaos by way of 480 bags of fertilizers for vegetable production to 270 beneficiaries in Getafe.
Meanwhile, the Aumentado-Diputado-Dabalos trio also distributed 360 bags of fertilizers worth P234,000 for farmers in Buenavista town. Mayor Dave Duallo witnessed the distribution.
In order for the program to continue so that other towns apart from the pilots may benefit as well, Aumentado vowed to provide strong support for the passing of the proposed agriculture budget come budgeting period for 2021.