BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi—The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will allocate P10 million to develop the cassava industry of this province.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol on Monday made the announcement, as he visited the public market of this municipality and checked the farm and marine products being sold by farmers and fisherfolk.
Piñol, in his interaction with local farmers, was informed that they manually grate the cassava used to make a delicacy locally known as pangi, sold in markets here.
“We have the money. We will fund it [cassava industry],” Piñol said.
Bongao Mayor Jimuel Que, who accompanied Piñol to the market, said there is huge supply of cassava since vast tracks of land in this province are planted to such crop.
The DA chief said the P10-million fund will be used to purchase tractors and graters, as well as planting materials, to boost the local cassava production.
Piñol arrived here on Monday and distributed P3.28 million worth of livelihood-support projects to local farmers and fisherfolks.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Eduardo Gongona accompanied the DA chief in his visit to this province.
They also held a dialogue with the local fisherfolk and farmers to determine their other needs.
While in Tawi-Tawi, Piñol led the distribution of P3.28 million worth of livelihood-support projects to fishermen in Bongao and Turtle islands.
Gongona accompanied Piñol in his visit to Bongao.
The livelihood-support projects distributed by Piñol included 40 units of 20-footer fiberglass reinforced plastic motorized boats; 40 sets of gill nets; and 20 units of rain harvesters.
The 40 units of motorized boats cost P1.4 million; gill nets, P280,000; and rain harvesters, P1.6 million.