NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) -- The entire province of Biliran is a food secure province, Regional Executive Director Andrew Rodolfo T. Orais said during the opening ceremony of the Agri-Tourism Trade Fair at the Biliran Capitol Compound in line with the province’s 31st Provincincehood Anniversary celebration come May 11.

Orais said, “Biliran is one of the champions in the region being self sufficient in rice.”

Pork, too, remains sufficient being the only province in the region to remain ASF-free, he said.

In terms of fishery resources, Biliran is an island province surrounded by sea, thus, aquatic resources is in abundance, and while fruits and vegetables is 80% to 90% sufficient, it is expected to meet sufficiency level in the next three years as observed in the plans of the current administration, he said.

Orais added that DA’s project dubbed Special Areas for Agricultural Development (SAAD) is to be implemented in Biliran this year with a P13 million fund while additional funding support for the next five years is expected depending on the progress of the implementation of the project.

For this year, he said, Biliran’s budget allocation for all programs in the agriculture sector, including farm-to-market roads, is P196-M.

Orais commended the farmers, fisherfolks, and all the stakeholders in agriculture for securing food in the table of every family, every barangay, every municipality, every province, and every region as the nation celebrates Farmers' and Fisherfolk's Month this May.

Agriculture is an important sector in food security concerns of every family, Orais said. (MMP/MLT/PIA Biliran)