TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) -- It was a dream come true for 200 farmers in San Miguel town when the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) granted them around P3 million in livelihood aid. 

The farmers are members of seven organizations in San Miguel town, a fourth class municipality located 87 kilometers away from the capital Tagbilaran City. 

They received mechanized farm implements that they can use and rent to other farmers in the irrigation catchment, such as 4-wheeled tractors, handtractors, rotary tiller, and mechanized threshers.

“Mapasalamaton mi ug dako kaayo tungod kay usa mi sa nahimong nakadawat niining dinagkong kahimanan para sa pag-uma. Amo jung ampingan kini ug hinaot mapalambo namo ni sa among asosasyon. (We are thankful because we are among the few that received these farm equipment and machineries. We promise to take care of these and hope we can further improve our organization,” said Christoper Bacnotan, president of Bugang Farmers Association, one of the seven farmers’ organizations that received the livelihood package from DOLE. 

The municipal government also provided a 20 percent counterpart fund to augment the livelihood assistance, said Estrellita Verenio, cooperative development worker and livelihood focal person at the Bohol provincial government.  

DOLE, through its DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), granted the livelihood package for farmers’ organizations so they can have these rented out to their members for their farm operations, tilling, and threshing services.  

The department also extended livelihood packages for women associations to augment farm incomes. 

Their livelihood grant includes a variety of egg production kit, restaurant and catering services, and swine fattening.

Farm implements, women’s livelihood package

The following organizations benefited from the P3 million livelihood assistance from DOLE in San Miguel: Bugang Farmer’s Association (P249,400), San Jose Women’s Organization (P146,120), Kagawasan Farmers’ Association (P243,288), Cambasan Irrigators’ Association Inc. (P999,696), Hagbuyo Women’s Association (P249,928), women’s organization in Barangay Corazon (P337,488), and Barangay Bugang’s Women Association (P498,482). 

San Miguel Mayor Ian Gil Mendez thanked DOLE for their livelihood assistance as it is a great help in spurring agricultural production in his town.

Cambasan

One organization that benefited from the livelihood package is the Cambangay, Bayongan and San Isidro (Cambasan) Irrigators’ Association that covers three barangays in San Miguel. 

The farms of Cambasan farmers  are watered by the Bayongan Irrigation System of the National Irrigation Administration. 

The members have been hoping to acquire mechanized farming that can significantly cut production costs and save them time to prepare for the next cropping.  

"Nagpasalamat mi kay mapasayon na ug mapadali usab ang pagtikad sa among mga kayutaan. (We are happy because this will mechanize the cultivation of our lands),” said Rowena Cambangay, president of Cambasan Irrigators' Association.

Government mechanization program

Since the government started its modernized mechanization program, farmers from rice-producing towns have realized the benefits of employing mechanized services, seeing how fast it can get their farms ready for the release of irrigation water. 

Production and labor costs make up a big chunk of the farmers’ expenses, and switching to mechanization will mean more efficient, fast, and cost-effective farm preparation and production. 

Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. has highlighted the need for mechanization to help improve the rice supply while lowering the production costs. 

In a speech delivered during the launching of the South Cotabato Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program in Banga, South Cotabato last year, the President said mechanization will make the farming process and marketing more efficient.

“Ginawa nating mas mura para sa farmer. At ang magiging epekto, dahil naging mas mura sa farmer, lalaki naman ang kaniyang kita (We are doing this to make the whole farming process and marketing more efficient. We are also doing this to lower [the production] cost for farmers. This will result in the improvement of their income),” Marcos said. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)