North Cotabato 2nd district Rep. Bernardo F. Piñol Jr. said the DA has promised to release the amount for the project in the first quarter of 2008.
The warehouse and the solar driers would benefit some 1000 rice farmers especially in the remote villages of Mlang.
The solon chose Mlang as beneficiary of the project following several requests submitted to the congressional district office in Barangay Amas here for the construction of solar driers and even warehouses in the town’s villages.
“This is now the realization of my commitment to the people of Mlang during the campaign period. I believe that these projects could help our farmers in this town especially in the far-flung villages,” Piñol stressed.
The congressman’s younger brother, Mlang Mayor Joselito Piñol, welcomed the project and thanked his brother for giving it to his municipality.
“I am very happy for this development. This is the first time that my town will receive such project from the Department of Agriculture and congressional district,” said Mayor Piñol in a text message.
In 2001, Mlang was adjudged as the cleanest and greenest municipality all over the country by former President Joseph Estrada due to its vast farmlands and clean environment.
Most of the residents in the town’s 37 villages depend on rice farming as their main source of income.
Rep. Piñol also pledged fertilizer support for rice farmers in all towns comprising the 2nd congressional district.
He announced this development in his radio program “Gobyerno sa Maluntarong Agrikultura” aired over dxND Radio for Peace.
He said that under the program a farmer may avail of up to five sacks of fertilizers payable after harvest.
“In this way we could help our dying farmers avoid going to loan sharks just to sustain their farming inputs,” he said.
But the congressman also encouraged the rice farmers to shift into major crops like coconut, oil palm and rubber by availing of his plant-now-pay-later scheme.
He said he firmly believes that planting these crops will help lessen poverty among the farmers.