SUMILAO, Bukidnon (PIA)--To ensure the availability and accessibility of food commodities, the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)-10 handed out the Certificate of Turnover of the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Financial Grant worth P2 million to the Local Government of Sumilao, Bukidnon, at the agency compound.

The fund is part of the total project cost of P2.5 million, of which DA-10 provided 80% and LGU Sumilao counterparts 20%, totaling P500,000.

On January 27, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga and Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) Assistant Division Chief Ferdinand F. Caraballe gave LGU Sumilao Municipal Agriculturist Melchora G. Dumayao the cargo transport delivery truck that was bought with the overall project budget.

DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said the program could help farmers' cooperatives and other groups contribute to a system that makes it easy to get food and makes sure there is enough food and other essential goods in areas where there is a lot of demand.

In return, Dumayao thanked DA for helping them get the money to buy the truck. Most of the farmers in the municipality who grow high-value crops will use the truck to save money on transportation costs.

DA-10 seeks to empower local farmers by providing a direct and effective farm-to-consumer food supply chain to meet the rising demand for agri-fishery products, including red onion market price stabilization. (DA-10/PIA-10/Bukidnon)