THE Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 has urged the local government units (LGUs) to work on their priority projects, especially those that are agriculture-related, following the approval of the P4.1 trillion national budget for 2020.
The national budget, which is equivalent to 19.5 percent of projected gross domestic product, is the country’s largest to date, larger by 12 percent than the 2019 budget. It will sustain the critical infrastructure, human capital development and peace and order initiatives of the administration to support socio-economic growth.
Of the P4.1 trillion budget, the government earmarked a P64.7 billion budget for the DA, which includes the P10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and the P3 billion financial subsidy to rice farmers.
DA 7 Director Salvador Diputado said the approval of the budget will allow agencies like the DA to continue and sustain the projects they have for the farmers, among others.
Diputado urged the local officials to coordinate with the DA should there be any agri-related projects they wish to implement in their locality this year. Seedlings and farm equipment are the most notable requests of LGUs.
The budget will also include the development of farm-to-market roads especially for areas with a high level of insurgency.
According to DA 7, 121 kilometers of farm-to-market roads were completed from 2018 to 2019. This includes the 5.7 kilometer farm-to-market road from Anonang Sur to Lambusan, Bogo City in Cebu. DA 7 also said there is a rehabilitation work for the 2.7 kilometer farm-to-market road from Kinahawan to Canagahan, San Remigio, Cebu.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar, in an earlier interview, said the DA will work hand in hand with the Department of Public Works and Highways to work on farm-to-market roads.
“We have about 10,000 kilometers of incomplete road networks, and we will prioritize the construction and rehabilitation of farm-to-market-roads in communist-infested communities,” Dar said. (JOB)