Declaring that there can be no productive Nueva Vizcaya and no food security without farmers and fisherfolk, Governor Jose V. Gambito vowed to sustain and expand government support for the agriculture sector during the 2026 Provincial Farmers and Fisherfolk Month celebration held at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center.
Speaking before farmers, fisherfolk, and agriculture stakeholders, Gambito said his administration will continue to prioritize programs that directly benefit food producers, stressing that the sector remains the backbone of the province’s economy and the country’s food supply.
“My dream is to see you driving your own air‑conditioned vehicles and enjoying comfortable, dignified lives. In other countries, farmers have become millionaires — that is the future I want for our farmers here in Nueva Vizcaya,” Gambito said.
He said farmers and fisherfolk deserve stronger government support because the province and the country depend on them for food. “There can be no thriving Nueva Vizcaya, no effective government, and no food on Filipino tables without you,” Gambito said. “Food security rests in your hands, so government resources must go to agriculture.”
Gambito recalled that upon assuming office after the passing of Governor Carlos M. Padilla, he told provincial department heads that agriculture would be his administration’s top priority and instructed them to minimize travel and shelve low-impact programs, redirecting the savings toward direct assistance for farmers and fisherfolk. He cited flagship projects Kalsada ti Kabanbantayan and Dalan ti Umili—focused on upgrading farm-to-market and rural roads—which, he said, will cut transport costs, reduce post-harvest losses, and get produce to market faster.
The governor also said his office is coordinating with various farmers’ cooperatives for a capital assistance program that would allow farmers to borrow funds for production, with the provincial government shouldering the interest payments.
In addition, the provincial government has allocated funds for the purchase of solar water pumps to be distributed to farmers’ organizations as part of efforts to improve irrigation access and reduce production expenses.
Gambito also reiterated his goal of transforming Nueva Vizcaya into an organic province, saying the provincial government is already coordinating with the Department of Agriculture to seek additional funding for organic farming programs.
Gambito gave assurance that agriculture will remain at the center of his administration’s development agenda, stressing that every program for farmers and fisherfolk is an investment in the province’s future.
“For as long as I serve as governor, our farmers and fisherfolk will never be left behind. Supporting agriculture means securing the future of Nueva Vizcaya, strengthening our communities, and ensuring that food reaches every Filipino table,” Gambito said.
He also called on the agriculture sector and the people of Nueva Vizcaya to remain united, prayerful, and committed to the province’s progress, saying that genuine development begins with love for one’s home.
“We have only one province to call our own. Let us protect it, nurture it, and work together for its future because wherever life may bring us, Nueva Vizcaya will always be the home we return to,” he said. /RMI
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