Seed firm comes to rescue of Benguet farmers

MANILA, Philippines - Responding to Benguet’s call for help after being devastated by typhoon Pepeng, Allied Botanical Corp. (ABC) has donated more than half a million pesos worth of vegetable seeds to the province, the vegetable bowl of the country.

The seeds were turned over by ABC president and general manager Willy U. Co to Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan in simple ceremonies held at the governor’s office.

“I knew Allied Botanical Corp. will be very willing to help us but I never expected you to be so generous to the people of Benguet. I am sure hundreds of our farmers and their families will benefit from these seeds,” said Fongwan.

The seed aid includes varieties of Chinese cabbage, pepper, carrot, and lettuce all of which are regularly grown by Benguet farmers.

“Our [ABC’s officials and staff] relationship with the Benguet people have exceeded the dealer-customer type. We have earned their trust for 25 years now, and, in this pressing situation that affected many of our friends, it’s a must that we give them their much needed quality seeds to ensure the continuous production of vegetables and more importantly, that farmers have a steady source of income,” said Co.

Aside from the agricultural assistance, ABC’s employees (some of whom were gravely affected by typhoon Pepeng) handed out clothes and toiletries to residents of the La Trinidad tent city – a make-shift village for those who were left homeless by the landslides. The relief goods were pooled from donations from ABC employees, and their friends and families some of which live and work in Canada and the United States.

Founded in 1984, Allied Botanical is the only 100-percent Filipino owned vegetable seed company in the country with a research and breeding facility located in Tayug, Pangasinan.