“Agri modernisation and Agri industrialization is the way forward,” Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar said during the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program held at Dinalupihan Civic Center yesterday, February 3.
Through the efforts of Mayor Gila Garcia which is in line with the vision of Dinalupihan to become a modern agropolis municipality, one thousand farmers from Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac and Bataan were gathered to receive cash cards and notice of cash grants worth 5,000 pesos which was followed by the ceremonial withdrawal from the ATM machine placed at Dinalupihan Plaza.
Secretary Dar clarified that the RFFA is not a loan but an unconditional cash transfer to farmers affected by low price of palay in the said provinces.
Governor Abet Garcia, in his inspiring message, highlighted the Province’s Public-Private Partnership with an Israeli company, Agrilever Hong Kong Ltd. in building an Agriculture Innovation and Technology Center (AITC) in the Dinalupihan.
Development Bank of the Philippines First Vice-President George Inocencio and Landbank of the Philippines Executive Vice-President Julio Climaco Jr., both partners of DA in this program also witnessed the event.
