Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer distributed checks worth P11 million to Negrense farmers who are beneficiaries of the Quick Turn Around/Early Planting Incentives Project of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
The activity was held at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City today, January 8.
A total of 5,413 farmers from the different towns and cities of the province were recipients of the project with a total coverage of 5,500 hectares, a press release from the Capitol said.
The project aims to provide cash incentives to farmers engaged in early planting from April to May as support to rice requirements during the off season.
Lacson thanked the farmers for their hard work that ensures food security in the province, the press release said.
He said that agriculture was one of the most affected sectors during the height of COVID-19 pandemic last year. The government and farmers need to help each other for economic recovery and to help uplift the lives of farmers, Lacson added.
The governor said that the Priority Development Agenda of the present administration has a huge focus on food security and agricultural productivity.
Also present in the activity were Board Member Andrew Montelibano, chairman of the SP Committee on Food and Agriculture, Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko and Jose Benito Alonso, and Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino.*