Just three days before his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. led the inauguration of the Sulvec Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Pasuquin and the Rice Processing System II in Piddig.

The Sulvec Small Reservoir Irrigation Project, which was started in 2014, is an initiative funded by over P940 million.

It is the first impounding dam in Ilocos Norte with a capacity of 1.063 million cubic meters. It is set to benefit the agricultural sector by irrigating more than 700 hectares of farmland, aiding over 1,000 farmers in Pasuquin.

“Aside from storing water for irrigation, two hectares of [the] dam’s reservoir will be dedicated to aquaculture. The nia (national irrigation administration) is also planning to develop the Sulvec to accommodate a hydro power plant facility for recreation and tourism,” Marcos said.

Meanwhile, the Rice Processing System II in Piddig aims to lower the price of rice while ensuring farmers' incomes are not compromised. The modern rice mill is expected to increase milling recovery rates from 58 percent to 64 to 65 percent. This means that from 100 sacks of 50-kilo palay, farmers can benefit from up to 65 sacks of milled rice instead of the previous 58.

“Sa panahon ng anihan, dito kami magbebenta o magpapagiling ng bigas,” Bernabe Hilario, a farmer, said.

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) led the inauguration and turnover of the modern rice mill to the Basi Multipurpose Cooperative. 

The facility is valued at P56.5 million and will benefit over 1,000 farmers.

“Ang kayang i-process [ng facility] ay two to three tons… kayang gumawa ng bigas [na] 300 bags [and] 50 kilos each sa isang araw on [an] eight-hour basis,” Dr. Dionisio Alvindia, Director IV of PhilMech, said.

The facility will be operated by a cooperative of farmers composed of members of the Irrigators Association

“Ang gagastos diyan ay [ang] cooperative. Sila din ang kukuha ng kita at hahatiin sa mga miyembro. Maswerte ang Basi cooperative na nasa sa kanila na ito,” President Marcos Jr., said.

CORDILLERA

With agriculture being the main source of livelihood in Apayao, Marcos attended an aid distribution program for farmers and fishermen in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at the Luna Sports Center.

“Ayon sa aming datos, higit P1 billion, or 1.24 billion, ang naging pinsala sa sektor ng agrikultura dito sa Cordillera region na nakaapekto sa kabuhayan [ng] higit 28,000 magsasaka at mangingisda… hindi biro ang ganitong laki at lawak ng pagkawala,” Marcos. said.

As part of the assistance, over 27,000 farmers and fishermen affected by El Niño received P10,000 each from the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolks, and their Families Fund.

They were also provided with P316.8 million worth of farm machinery, motorized boats, technology demonstration projects, and irrigation systems.

“Siyempre kung walang tubig kapag mag-i-spray ka maraming masisira din... nagpapasalamat kami; first time naming makatanggap ng P10,000,” Herminia Fronda, a farmer, said.

“Mahirap dahil mahal ang charge o upa ng traktor sa kada ektarya. Nagpapasalamat kami sa administrasyon, malaking ginhawa ito sa amin,” Magno Herrera, President of the Tumog Corn Farm Cluster Association, said.

P50 million were also given to the provinces of Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, P34.5 million to Abra, and P29.7 million to Benguet. Besides the direct aid, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholars received allowances.

“Mostly ang mga mabibigyan ng allowance sa mga scholar ay more on agriculture,” Balmyrson Valdez, Director of TESDA-CAR, said.

“Sana huwag nilang waldasin yung mga binibigay na tulong ng gobyerno dahil napakahaba ng pila ng mga humihingi ng tulong,” Nathaniel Lacambra, Director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-CAR), said.

(with reports from Jasmin Gabriel-Galban and Ivy Hernando, GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon)