Monday, July 07, 2008 LGUs told to fulfill food commitments
LOCAL government units (LGUs) in the region are urged to deliver their financial commitments to subsidize the fertilizer program for farmers.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) asked the provinces to fulfill their commitment to food security by allotting portions of their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) differentials for 2001 and 2004 for fertilizer subsidies for rice growers.
The National Government is releasing more than P12 billion IRA differentials to all LGUs in the country.
The amount represents the IRA differentials of the LGUs due to the reenactment of the national budget in 2001 and 2004.
Governors in the Cordillera committed about P26 million for the fertilizer subsidy program of government.
The program seeks to improve rice production by providing subsidized fertilizers.
The partnership program between the DA and the LGUs will provide six bags of fertilizers per farmer at discounted prices.
The six bags would cover one hectare of rice plantation.
Under the program, LGUs and the DA will provide a P250 subsidy for six bags of fertilizers for every hectare of rice plantation.
LGUs will shoulder four bags while the DA, two.
The DA is targeting 75,709 hectares of rice plantation in the region for the fertilizer subsidy program on the wet cropping season or the May to October planting season only.
Other programs for food security include the construction of irrigation facilities, farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure projects. (JC)
