Japan gov't gives 74 T bags of fertilizers to Iloilo farmers
The third and final shipment of the 300 million Yen or P125-million worth of fertilizers under the Japan Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers program was formally turned over to the Philippine government at the Loboc Port in Iloilo City yesterday.
The 5,000 metric tons equivalent to 100,000 bags of fertilizers will benefit poor farmers from Albay, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
Iloilo will have the biggest share with 3,700 metric tons or 74,000 bags; Negros Occidental follows with 8,000 metric tons or 16,000 bags and Albay with 500 metric tons or 10,000 bags.
Felipe Uygongco, president of the La Filipina Uygongco, the consignee, said the fertilizers will be sold at P450 per bag, which is P30 lower than the prevailing market price pegged at P480.
Uygongco meantime warned farmers to stay away from possible middlemen who might take advantage of the situation. He said the fertilizers are meant for rice farmers only with a property of less than three hectares.
National Executive and Fishery Council (NAFC) executive director Bernie Fondevilla, who graced the ceremonial turn over clarified that the grant will come later in the form of projects to be funded by the proceeds of the fertilizers.
Uygongco, who won the right to sell the fertilizers, have to pay NAFC the required amount within 180 days.
Meantime, Mitsuhiro Ito, the Japanese Embassy's First Secretary of Agriculture assured his country's "unwavering efforts to provide renewed hopes and greater livelihood opportunities for Filipino underprivileged farmers."
The first two shipments of the fertilizers arrived last July 24 and Aug. 5 in the ports of Bataan and Batangas, respectively.
The 2KR or Kennedy Round grant has a total volume of 15, 607 metric tons to be distributed to poor farmers in Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Camarines Sur, Albay, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
Today's turnover also signaled the full implementation of the grant.
The ceremony was witnessed by Japan's Economic Minister Mr. Akira Sugiyama, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, DA-OIC executive director Larry Nacionales, RAFC chairperson Ricardo Provido and Mitsubishi Corporations's department manager Yutaka Umetsu.
(PNA)