TUPI, South Cotabato (9 March 2015) – The Department of Agriculture (DA), with counterpart from the city government, has given post-harvest facilities to several farming cooperatives in Gensan.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Senator Cynthia Villar initiated the turnover of farming machines, post-harvest facilities, and project funds - amounting to almost P1 billion - for Gensan and other local government units in SOCSKSARGEN on March 3 at DA Research Center in Bololmala, Tupi.
For Gensan, the DA gave two corn mills, two corn shellers and one floating tiller with a total cost of around P1 million. The LGU Gensan has a 15% counterpart per project component.
Aside from that, a certificate of completion of the Fatima-to-San Jose farm-to-market-road (FMR) costing P10 million was also given to Gensan City Mayor Ronnel Rivera.
DA is also funding the on-going construction of an FMR in Barangay San Jose.
Senator Villar, during the activity, said that they gave these projects to Gensan to support its pursuit to become the agro-industrial hub of the SOCSKSARGEN region.
“I met Mayor Rivera several times in the past already—during different national conventions held in Gensan. He always conveys how he wants to develop Gensan into an agro-industrial hub that’s why we (with DA) want to help him,” Villar said.
Villar described Mayor Rivera as “my favorite mayor.”
When Mayor Rivera was elected as local chief executive of Gensan last 2013, he benchmarked various initiatives to develop the agricultural sector of the city.
Among these was the pursuit of the construction of an Integrated Food Terminal (IFT) for centralized trade, farm-to-market roads, and other agricultural support facilities.
He is also pushing for the refurbishment of the General Santos City Public Market through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
For the past few years, the local government of Gensan has forged strong linkage with DA that highlighted Gensan’s capacity to become an agricultural hub.
The 23rd National Hog Convention, First National Dairy Congress, and some other agricultural conventions have been held in Gensan for the past year and a half—proving that Gensan is gaining ground as an agricultural city.
Mayor Rivera also highlights his interest for Gensan to be a major producer of crops, mango, and dairy.
Recently, it was known that General Santos City, aside from being the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines”, is now a key exporter of hogs to various regions in the country.
According to Dave Arreglado, LGU Gensan executive assistant on investment and tourism, Regions 3 to 11 are now getting their pork supply from this city.
“Ninety percent of our swine products are being shipped to other regions; only 10% remain here for consumption. Unlike Cebu and other cities, 100% of their production is just for local consumption only,” Arreglado said.
Mayor Rivera said that he will continue his effort to develop and diversify Gensan’s economy—not just reliant on the fishing industry.
“We are stepping up to become more than just the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. I want Gensan to become a beacon of investment and opportunities that is why we are working hard to achieve this,” Mayor Rivera emphasized. (Gensan CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)
No comments:
Post a Comment