CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to construct two cold storage facilities in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija to help onion farmers in the town maximize their produce.

During the Sibuyas Festival 2018 held at the Bongabon Central School in Barangay Rizal, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija on April 3, DA Central Luzon Regional Executive Director Engr. Roy M. Abaya said that the storage facilities will help protect farmers from infestation of army worms in onion farms.

“My salutations to all the onion farmers of Bongabon despite the armyworm infestation they remained positive and resilient. Rest assured that we would give assistance to farmers who were highly affected to this destructive pest. Our programs are cascaded to lower production cost through modern farming technologies, distribution of high-yielding rice seed varieties, among others. We will also be establishing two cold storage facilities in Nueva Ecija,” Abaya said.

Abaya also dubbed the farmers as “modern-day heroes.”

“But recognition and gratitude should be given to the farmers of Central Luzon for they are the main reason why the region excels in the agriculture sector,” Abaya said.

Started 14 years ago, the Sibuyas Festival is a celebration of thanksgiving that showcases the ingenuity of the people of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. It depicts the people’s hardworking skill in growing the famous “sibuyas” abundantly grown in the fertile soil of the countryside.

The town of Bongabon is Nueva Ecija’s leading onion producer in the country and is known as the “onion basket of the Philippines.”