Gov. Tan teams up with DA, offers P1.95 million counterpart seed subsidy

By EMY C. BONIFACIO, Samar News.com
January 15, 2011

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The Office of the Governor of Samar, represented by Gov. Sharee Ann T. Tan, partnered with the Department of Agriculture Region 8 in its Rice Self Sufficiency and Productivity Program by providing a P1.95 million worth of counterpart subsidy. The amount will reduce the amount of certified seeds for rice farmers in the 1st and 2nd districts of Samar.

More than 70 participants from the 26 local government units of Samar witnessed the launching activity last January 5, 2011 at the SP Session Hall of the provincial capitol. It was spearheaded by DA-8 Regional Director Leo P. Cañeda and witnessed by Governor Sharee Ann T. Tan, Vice-Governor Stephen James T. Tan and NFA Provincial Manager Ms. Francisca Mercado. The assembly was attended by farmer beneficiaries, seed growers, Municipal Agricultural Officers and DA/OPA officials and personnel.

The Rice Self-sufficiency and Productivity program aims to increase the utilization of certified seeds through cost reduction; to attain 10% increase in yield from 2.42 metric tons to 2.66 metric tons per hectare in 6,500 hectares program area and to increase palay outputs of 1,573 metric tons for September 2010 to March 2011 cropping season.

DA Officer-in-charge, Ms. Anita T. Taran, announced that a total of P1.95 million has been allocated by Gov. Tan to support the seed requirements of about 6,500 farmers in Samar. To qualify as a farmer beneficiary, inclusion in the master list of farmers in the RaSSFIP program is a must.

For every bag of certified seeds which amounts to P1,200, the DA provides a 50% subsidy, lowering the farmer’s equity to only P600. However, instead of paying P600, farmers will only be paying P300 because of the additional subsidy from the provincial government.

All farmer beneficiaries who would want to enroll in this program should register with the Agricultural assigned in the LGU, pay his equity of P300 to DA authorized representative and affix his signature to acknowledge the receipt of the seeds. On the other hand, the MAOs will prepare the submission of a complete list of farmer beneficiaries to DA-RFU8 and collect the P300 farmer’s equity. The provincial government will in turn set aside a special fund of P1.95 million for the counterpart seed subsidy and make the fund ready for disbursement. It will be the NFA’s responsibility to issue receipts for the P300 provincial subsidy and P300 farmer’s equity.

Governor Tan was happy over the passage/approval of the provincial Annual Budget for CY 2010 because it made her possible to implement pro-poor programs. Tan announced an ongoing P19 million worth of a farm to market road construction in Sto-Niño to Rawis, Gandara and the provision of a 5% counterpart amounting to P2 million for an P8 million irrigation project in Jiabong. She calls on the need for solidarity among stakeholders. She also commits to give fertilizers and farm implements to farmers. “Dara han pagkamay-ada naton hin aprobado nga budget, an gugma ngan ngan serbisyo tikang han akon administrasyon maipa-aabot ko na ha iyo. An gobyerno andam pagbulig ha iyo ngan naglalaum ako nga ini an magin tinikangan han maupay nga mga relasyones”, were the exact statements of the governor.

Tan further stressed on the importance of having sustainable programs on agriculture. She hopes that the program will not end at its launching activity only, but a start of more developments in Samar that will lessen or ease poverty among her constituents. She ended her speech with an appeal to all provincial legislators to pass the Annual Budget for CY 2011 the soonest possible time in order to deliver the proposed programs contained in the proposed budget.

On the other hand, Dir. Cañeda tagged the launching activity as “a day of victory for our farmers, signaling a new era for agricultural development.” He expressed his appreciation to Gov. Tan for being one of those governors who responded to   his call for partnership in the certified seeds subsidy program.

As part of the program, rice subsidy coupons and souvenir t-shirts were distributed to farmer-beneficiaries. The activity was highlighted by the turn-over of the Provincial Rice Sufficiency Blue Print from DA Director Leo P. Cañeda to Gov. Share Ann T. Tan. This was facilitated by OPA Officer-in-charge, Ms. Anita Taran.