“Model” agriculture facility rises in Kayapa

Governor Carlos M. Padilla, Kalanguya leader Samuel G. Balinhawang, the newly installed Provincial Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), and local officials headed by Mayor Elizabeth D. Balasya, Vice Mayor Peter L. Bay-an, and Punong Barangay Velasco P. Windo, Jr., led the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Kayapa Organic Agriculture Packing Center held on 09 March at the Pangawan Barangay Hall, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.

This project, which primarily falls under the “(A)griculture and Food Security” and “(I)ndigenous Peoples” components of the PRAYERS N FAITH 13-point development agenda of the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya (PGNV), will be catering to about 80 farmers who are mostly engaged in organic agriculture and related activities.Governor Padilla explained that it aims to provide them and their respective households with more robust livelihood opportunities, while, at the same time, strengthening the concerted efforts of the province to sustainably produce healthier food, and to address as well serious soil, water, and environment issues. The project is also intended to serve as a prototype for possible adoption by other people’s organizations across the province. During the ceremony, a check in the amount of P2,997,212.41 was handed over by Governor Padilla to Mr. Joseph B. Antero, President of the Kayapa Organic Producers Association Inc. (KOPAI) for the project’s “by administration” implementation, a procedure by which funds are given directly to a beneficiary organization that will carry out an infrastructure project under its administration and supervision through its own people, subject to proper liquidation with an accompanying accomplishment report immediately after the completion of the project.The proposed facility was funded out of the provincial share from the ER 1-94 Fund of the Department of Energy (DOE) derived from the Development and Livelihood allotments set aside by the Casecnan Water and Energy, Inc. (P2,098,422.80), and First Gen Hydro Power Corporation (P898,789.61) in pursuit of their mandatory corporate social responsibility programs for communities hosting their business projects.The beneficiaries will also draw some capability-building support from the Nueva Vizcaya Farm School in Magsaysay, Bayombong, an agri-business training center that is headed by Asst. PPDC Maria Jonem P. Gacad. This first-of-a-kind school in Region 02 that is managed and operated by the PGNV, has been awarded on 29 May 2019 five (5) program accreditations by the TESDA, namely: Organic Vegetable Production, Organic Concoctions and Extracts Production; Organic Chicken Raising; Organic Fertilizer Production; and Organic Small Ruminants Raising. All such programs lead to Organic Agriculture Production NC-II.Vizcaya Fresh! Organic Advocate Inc. (VFOAI) headed by Operations Manager Amos B. Dayag will also assist the farmers in marketing their organic produce, among others.The Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) headed by PPDC Edgardo D. Sabado, along with the Municipal Government of Kayapa, facilitated the preparation of the requisite documents in support of the favorable endorsement of the project by Governor Padilla for appropriate legislative action by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.#jlc