The Department of Agriculture in Central Luzon (DA-3) has distributed inorganic fertilizers to some 7,292 farmers in this province.

In partnership with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), the initiative aims to ensure food and agricultural security in the province.

Provincial agriculturist Jimmy Manlilic on Tuesday said the farmer recipients were from the towns of Magalang, Floridablance, Lubao, Guagua, Santa Rita, Porac and Mabalacat City.

Manlilic said each farmer-beneficiary received two sacks containing 50 kilograms of fertilizers during the distribution activities from Feb. 10-13.

“Ito ay personal na kahilingan ni Governor Dennis Pineda sa DA. Layunin ng pamamahagi ng abono sa ating mga magsasaka ay palakasin ang kanilang produksiyon sa palay at masaganang ani (This is a personal request of Governor Dennis Pineda to DA. The goal of distributing fertilizer to our farmers is to boost their palay production and for bountiful harvests),” he said in an interview.

Manlilic said DA and OPA personnel will visit other towns in the province to distribute fertilizers to rice farmers.

Cezar Santiago, the chairperson of the Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council of Porac, thanked the DA and OPA for their support and assistance to the farmers.

“Kami ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa magandang proyektong ibinigay nila sa ating mga magsasaka lalung-lalo na ngayon sobrang taas ng abono sa merkado (We are thankful for the good project being given to the our farmers, especially now that the price of fertilizers in the market is too high),” Santiago said.

Aside from the fertilizers, Manlilic said farmers have also been receiving from DA farm machinery and other inputs.

“Sinisikap po natin na dagdagan ang suporta sa mga magsasaka para tiyakin na may sapat na supply ng pagkain sa Pampanga (We are trying to add support to the farmers to ensure sufficient food supply in Pampanga),” he added. (PNA)