March 2, 2010

Shallow tube wells,  Cloud seeding,  Irrigation system rehabilitation,  Greenhouses,  Gawad Kalinga’s Bayan-anihan Program


These are among pro-active measures considered during the provincial government-initiated multi-sectoral forum last March 1, 2010 for the impending El Niño-induced drought that focused on the needs of the Batangueño farmers and the assistance that could be provided them.

Gov. Vilma Santos Recto, through Provincial Agriculture Office Chief Pedrito Martin M. Dijan, Jr., organized the meeting attended by Vice Gov. Mark Leviste and Dijan from the provincial government; Gawad Kalinga (GK) Food Sufficiency Program executive director Mike Dimaguiba and GK volunteer ret. Gen. Fernando Manalo; DILG Acting Prov. Director Romeo Wamil; Myrna Munar, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer for the Dept. of Agriculture Region 4-A; Marivic Dinglasan of the National Irrigation Administration; and municipal agricultural officers.

Leviste was on hand to obtain the assessments of the local agri officers if there is pressing need, as per the present farm situation in each municipality, to declare a state of emergency in the province.

Dijan also revealed the plan of the governor to provide temporary employment to affected but qualified farmers and their family members, if this is legally possible in the light of the COMELEC-imposed ban on appointments.

GK’s Bayan-anihan intends to establish backyard vegetable farms in an initial 40 sites in Batangas as part of their common goal to ensure food security and generate livelihood opportunities for hunger-prone families.  - Vince Altar