SAN FERNANDO CITY, Philippines -- Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda commended the farmer-achievers in Pampanga during the Aldo ding Ortelano or farmers’ Day as part of the week-long celebration of Pampanga Day.

She recognized the important role and contribution of the old and young farmers in food security program of the government and providing for the economic well being not just of their own families but of their particular communities and the province as a whole.

The governor gave certificates of recognition, cash prizes and goodies to senior citizen farmers and farmer-achievers.

“Para maipakita ninyo sa mga apo ninyo na kinilala kayo ng pamahalaang panlalawigan sa inyong pagpupunyagi bilang mga magsasaka,”she said.

She announced that the Department of Agriculture (DA) through Secretary Proceso Alcala and the Regional Field Unit in Pampanga, has given two units of combined harvester, two hand tractors, a mini tractor, four big tractors, one thresher, two reapers, one warehouse, one multi-purpose drying pavement for the use of Pampanga farmers.

The 50% counterpart which should have been paid by the farmers’ associations for the equipment was already paid by the Provincial Government.

These pieces of good news were met with loud applause by nearly 500 farmers who were present especially when she promised to give more attention to their sector’s needs.

“Inuna ko lang ang pagsasaayos ng mga government hospitals para kung magkasakit kayo o ang pamilya n’yo, may mapupuntahan kayong maayos na ospital,” the governor declared.

She also announced that the province received from the national government a big slice of the budget for the dredging of waterways while assuring them of more support in the coming year.

“Kayo ang nagpo-produce ng pagkain nating lahat kaya gusto naming umunlad pa kayo, at binigyan naming ng espesyal na araw ng pagkilala ngayong pagdiriwang natin ng Pampanga Day.”

Rep. Agapito Guanlao of Butil Party-list thanked the governor for her support to and recognition of the farmers. He also gave two shallow tube wells, 10 bags of rice and vegetable seeds and green houses for senior citizen farmers.

He said that he continues with his Gulayan sa Barangay project and invited them to go to his office for anything that they need on their vegetable gardening.

Guanlao disclosed that “Pampanga used to be the vegetable basket of the Philippines, so continue to plant more vegetables and try to reclaim this distinction.”

To serve as incentive to farmers, he informed them that he would sponsor a competition among barangays on vegetable farming with the following as prizes: P100,000.00, first prize; P50,000.00, second; and P25,000.00, third.

Regional Director Andrew Villacorta of the DA RFU 3 congratulated the farmer-awardees and assured them of their office’s support. He relayed Sec. Alcala’s message encouraging them to ensure their bountiful harvest toward food self-sufficiency.

“This can be done especially with the increased budget of the department from P35 billion in the previous years to P61 billion next year.