LIBMANAN, Camarines Sur -- Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, together with officials of the Bicol Region Social Action Centers (BRSAC) and Congressman Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, this week led the launching of DA – Bicol Sustainable Agriculture Network Partnership, a government-church joint undertaking to raise productivity and profitability in small farms through sustainable agriculture in this rice-rich town.

        As DA’s support to the project Secretary Yap turned over to the Prelature of Libmanan Development Foundation Inc.(PLDFI) one unit of rice mill with output capacity of 20-25 bags per hour worth P730,000 and one unit flat bed dryer with a capacity of 6 tons per hour worth P500,000.

        Yap also turned over six units of shredder to the six church-based Social Action Centers in the region, represented by the provincial directors. The secretary likewise distributed to the farmer leaders from the cluster areas of 11 municipalities (mostly from the 2nd district) irrigation pumps, garden tools sets and packets of assorted vegetable seeds.

        The event was highlighted by the signing of the Act of Commitment by the church, government officials, local officials, representatives from the academe and the private sector.

        Among those who signed the Act of Commitment were Secretary Yap, Cong. Arroyo, DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat; Rev. Fr. Norberto Eyule, executive secretary, BRSAC; Sr. Roseanne Mallillin, national executive secretary of the National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (NASSA); Msgr. Manuel Ricafort - vicar general for administration, Fr. Mike de la Rosa- vicar general for administration Fr. Granwell Pitapit, executive director,(PLDFI), Carmen Valdes, general coordinator of AECI,. Dr. Jose Dayao, DA Bicol regional executive director, Atty. Nolito Bernales, president, CSSAC and the SAC provincial directors.

        Yap also met with the officials of the DA, NIA and irrigators associations to firm up plans for the implementation of the Libmanan–Cabusao irrigation project which is a commitment of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the farmers here who have requested for the conversion of the existing pump irrigation systems to gravity irrigation. Yap instructed Engr. William Ragodon, NIA –OIC regional manager to fast track the implementation of the project.

        In a brief meeting with the mayors, Yap urged them to synchronize their targets with the targets of the DA especially on rice and vegetable production and directed DA Regional Executive Director Dayao to work closely with the mayors.

        Yap assured the mayors that DA will source out the palay seeds they need and urged them to carefully plan out the planting schedule of vegetables to be sold to Metro Manila or to go into off-season planting in order not to flood the market.

        During the same occasion, Yap administered the oath of office to Fidel Cu, a banker and businessman from Naga City who was recently appointed member of the Board of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation. (Emily B. Bordado DA-RAFID 5)

Caption: SEC. YAP IN LIBMANAN. Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, together with Congressman Dato Arroyo of the1st District of Camarines Sur, cuts the ceremonial ribbon for the formal opening of flatbed dryer in Brgy Bahay, Libmanan, Camarines Sur as part of the launching of DA-Bicol Sustainable Agriculture Network Partnership. The flatbed dryer has lower drying cost compared to mechanical dryers due to the use of rice hull as fuel, low labor requirements and low repair/maintenance cost. Assisting Sec Yap and Cong. Arroyo are DA Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat and Sr. Roseanne Mallillin, executive secretary of the National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (NASSA).