MikeLigalig.com

The provincial government of Palawan has allocated P31 million for the distribution of agricultural input subsidy to the almost 16,847 farmers in the province in support to the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s food security program.

Governor Joel T. Reyes said the P31 million is part of P62 million unreleased Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from 2002 to 2004 being loaned to Development Bank of the Philipines (DBP) to be utilized for the province’s food security program.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, Reyes and provincial leaders separately launched the food security program and distributed agricultural farm inputs to the farmer-beneficiaries in the towns of Aborlan and Narra.

Reyes assured that provincial government is determined to help farmers enhance its rice production and ease from the spiraling farm inputs across the globe.

He said the fertilizer subsidy program is a partnership with the Department of Agriculture which involves the distribution of discount coupons for the purchase of this vital input equivalent to P500 per farmer.

Reyes said Palawan is still self-sufficient in rice supply.

He cited that in 2007, the province harvested 269,000 metric tons, both in wet and dry cropping seasons.

The province has a surplus of 51,800 metric tons based on its population of 850,000, he noted. - PNA