City dad to meet with farmers

CEBU, Philippines - The Committee on Agriculture of the Cebu City Council is set to meet with different farmers’ associations in the city to consult and address their concerns on the effects of El Niño which will be felt by next month.

City Councilor Alvin Arcilla said that by the first week of June, he will meet with the presidents of the 44 upland barangay associations and listen to their concerns.

“Di man ko motuo nga ang usa ka area, ang ila gikinahanglan usa ra ka length nga hose. So ang ako nga mutabang ‘ta sa farmers in a holistic approach and 100 hundred percent ilang needs ma-address jud,” he said.

Arcilla, who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Agriculture, said he will present before the council the result of his discussion with the farmers.

Arcilla also hopes that the council will finally approve the P7.49 million that he has been requesting for the procurement of seedlings and equipment that will mitigate the ill-effects of the dry spell to at least 31 mountain barangays in the city.

The councilor further requests City Agricultural Department (CAD) to implement  the P5 million loan assistance to farmers, which he earlier sponsored. The program has been approved and has actually been appropriated in the City’s 2014 annual budget.

“Ang mga farmers man gud kugihan, pero way maayo nga crops kay way ikapalit medisina ug seedlings,” Arcilla further said.

Baclayon, in a separate interview, said that some of the farmer associations are still processing the needed documents so they can avail of the loan assistance.

Under the assistance, a farmer can receive cash depending on how much he exactly needs for his farm with zero percent interest.

Baclayon, who requested the P7.49 million funds through Arcilla, said the money will be used to apply drip irrigation system and to purchase net houses, water tanks or reservoirs, drums, and seedlings, among others, which will then be distributed to each farmer association.

The CAD chief also requested another P5 million through Councilor David Tumulak, which will also be used to purchase the same agricultural inputs.

“The amount is not even enough considering na dako kaayo ta og farmland, but at least this will help prevent or lessen the effects of El Niño to our farmers and to their livelihood,” said Baclayon.  (FREEMAN)