Bohol steps up assistance to over 1,000 farmers, rebel returnees, schools

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

TAGBILARAN CITY – The Provincial Government of Bohol stepped up its assistance to more than 1,000 farmers with P2.2 million worth of hybrid rice seeds; food packs to 381 island families; cash aid to some rebel returnees and awarded winners to the Provincial Search for Best Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) 2019 and Search for Kinadakoang Liso all in Talibon town.

Bohol governor Arthur Yap distributed 1,870 packs of hybrid rice seeds to the 1,000 farmers who are cultivating some 374 hectares of rice fields in Talibon.

“These farmers were enrolled in the provincial government’s Advanced Rice Technology (ART)160 Program that aims to increase the yield to 160 cavans per hectar,” Yap said.

From the rice fields Yap with Talibon mayor Janet Garcia, 2^nd district board member Frans Garcia and provincial agriculturist Larry Pamugas proceeded to award the winners of the “Best Gulayan sa Paaralan in Talibon town, according to Ven Arigo, Bohol Provincial information Officer.

For the high school level GPP winners; Sikatuna National Agricultural High School got the first prize for the rural areas garden category and San Jose National High School-1st prize for the containerized areas garden category.

For the elementary level GPP winners; Talibon II Central East School- 2nd prize for the containerized areas garden category and Sikatuna National Agricultural High School, won 2nd prize in the Search for Kinadakoang Liso.

Arigo went on that the governor also cruised around Talibon’s Nocnocan Island and met with the mid-sea villagers who previously received food packs distributed by the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (OPSWD) led by its head Carmelita Tecson.

Yap has been going to island towns to distribute food packs, Arigo added that prior to his visit in the Island, the OPSWD delivered food packs to 381 Nocnocan island households. Each of the 381 households in the island received 5 kilos of rice and canned goods.

Talibon mayor Garcia and Nocnocan barangay captain Ernesto Cellan led the residents to welcome the governor who also tuned over P65,000 check to a rebel returnee here. The cash assistance included P15,000 for immediate needs and P50,000 for livelihood under the E-CLIP, Arigo said.

With the governor were DILG-Bohol Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales and Lt. Grace Remonde of the 47th IB who facilitated the release of the aid. Tecson and Talibon Chief of Police Roger Gara also witnessed the financial assistance turnover.