MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA)—The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) of Misamis Oriental reported during the ‘Talakayan sa PIA’ media forum that the budget for the agriculture sector of the province will be tripled for the year 2023, as Governor Peter M. Unabia's administration focuses on assisting Misamisnon farmers in improving their living conditions.

Dr. Benjamin Resma, PAGRO Officer-in-Charge, said that despite the pandemic that the country has been dealing with for quite some time, their office has never stopped helping the farmers of the province by providing technical assistance and seeds.

He also said that the province plans to subsidize farm inputs to assist farmers, particularly at this time when inputs are expensive.

“Mao pud ni ang instruction sa ato ni Gov. Unabia nga dapat matabangan gyud ang mga mag-uuma labi na karon nga mahal kaayo ang presyo labi na sa mga farm inputs. Ang unang gihimo ni Governor Unabia is to increase the budget for next year by nearly three times sa current nga budget. (Governor Unabia directed us to assist farmers, primarily due to the high cost of farm inputs. The governor’s first order was to nearly triple the current budget for next year),” he said.

With the various programs and assistance that the agency provides, the PAGRO chief assures all Misamisnon farmers that their doors and municipal agriculture offices are always open to serve and assist them. All they need to do is submit a letter of intent so that they can validate the request and see if they are qualified to avail of the help they seek.

Resma also reported that African Swine Fever (ASF) had infected over 94 barangays in the province. However, according to their most recent monitoring, they have not recorded any new cases of ASF in the last four months, which has been attributed to the provincial government's strict border monitoring and control in the towns of Lugait and Magsaysay.

He emphasized that before allowing farmers to engage in hog raising or livestock farming, PAGRO and the Provincial Veterinary Office had established guidelines and requirements.

With this, Resma said that the PAGRO continues to remind hog farmers and Misamisnons that despite the absence of ASF cases in the province, the virus is still present and no one should be complacent. (JAKA/PIA10)