KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) --  The province of Aklan is still primarily  an agricultural province with a vibrant tourism industry, according to Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores, when he welcomed the officers and members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) VI during its 1st Quarter Full Meeting in Boracay Island recently.

“Boracay Island is back in business. Through the combined efforts of the national and local governments, private sector, civil society and the media, Boracay Island is slowly recovering from the effects of the closure brought about by its rehabilitation and the pandemic,” Miraflores told the RDC members who came all the way from the provinces of Negros, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras to attend the meeting.

“In support to this, we are providing sustained assistance to our farmers for a more efficient and bountiful production. We have continued the Farmers and Fisherfolks Day; we provide trainings through our agri-aqua demonstration farm and training center in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo,  which has just been certified as a learning site for agriculture (LSA) of the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI),” Miraflores said.

He added that currently, the Aklan Grains Processing Center, also located in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo, has started operating fully in September 2022, purchasing wet and dry palay from Aklan farmers at relatively high valuation and offering drying and rice milling services at reasonable rates, which help stabilize the price of palay in the province.

With Aklan as host, the RDC meeting was held at Hennan Palm Beach Resort in the island, and was presided by RDC Chairperson and Bacolod City mayor Alfredo Abelardo B. Benitez.

Also in attendance were Secretary Terence Calatrava of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, and USEC Mark Cristeo R. Gimenez of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS). (JBG/VGV/PIA6 Aklan)