LGUs welcome DA's Plant,Plant,Plant Program

Various Local Government Units (LGU) of Central Visayas warmly welcomed the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Plant,Plant,Plant (4Ps) Program which seeks to enhance local food production particularly in this time of health crisis.

In a recent leg of the DA7's fruit-tree seedlings distribution in the municipalities of Bohol on July 1, 2020, DA7 Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador D. Diputado was personally joined by Balilihan town Mayor Pureza V. Chatto in an actual fruit-tree planting in the town's identified production area. The town's Sangguniang Bayan members also attended the planting ceremony.
Municipalities of Bohol have been the first target in the distribution of fruit-tree seedlings due to the presence of the DA7's major crops research stations in Bohol which makes it accessible especially during this time of quarantine where transportations are limited.
"Our research stations particularly in Bohol province have been instructed to intensify its seedlings production in compliance with Secretary William Dar's plant, plant, plant program," Diputado said.
He added that these seedlings will be distributed to the different LGUs for free to raise local agriculture productivity.
Prior to Balilihan, the DA7 team conducted the
fruit-tree seedlings distribution and ceremonial tree-planting in Catigbian, Bohol with Mayor Elizabeth Mandin and Vice Mayor Esteban Angilan. DA-7 Engr Taboy Du and Mr. Roman Dabalos, Bohol's Agriculture Program Coordinating Officer witnessed the event.
Diputado shared that Secretary Dar directed all DA stations to bolster vegetable and fruit production in all the regions as the country battles the pandemic.
Seedlings distributed in the different municipalities of Bohol included guyabano and the very-sweet jackfruit variety produced in Bohol Experiment Station in Ubay.
Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año has issued Memorandum Circular 2020-080, directing all LGUs to participate in the DA's plant, plant, plant program.
"With this directive of DILG, we can assure that our programs will reach the grassroots with the support of the Local Chief Executives. We are grateful with the DILG for this support mechanism," Diputado said.
Aside from fruit-tree seedlings and vegetable seeds, DA7's rice seeds and fertilizers distribution is ongoing in the four provinces of the region which is still part of the agency's 4Ps program.