Solon tries to beef up food production; distributes certified palay seeds, tilapia fingerlings

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
April 15, 2008

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  The Office of Samar’s Second District representative to congress, Rep. Sharee Ann Tan distributed some 135 bags of certified seeds to the municipalities of Motiong with 10 bags, Jiabong 15, Hinabangan 10, Pinabacdao 20, Villareal 25, Sta. Rita 40, Marabut 15 and San Sebastian 20 bags.

This was disclosed by Eulogio Casiño agricultural technician (AT) of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).

Casiño said that the certified seeds classified as RC144 will be used this cropping season by farmer-beneficiaries. The LGUs were given the authority to distribute them to deserving beneficiaries.

Aside from the certified seeds, vegetable seeds like eggplants, squash and tomatoes were also distributed but to a few towns as the seed-supplies were limited.

On April 11, 2008 the team of Casiño started giving out the bags of palay to the mentioned towns. The following day, April 12, the group then proceeded to the Babatngon Tilapia Hatchery to procure some 300,000 tilapia fingerlings earlier booked by The Provincial Fishery Chief Rolando Ay-ay.

After collecting the tilapia fingerlings, the group retraced its path to drop the tilapia fingerlings to Sta. Rita, Pinabacdao, Calbiga, Motiong, Paranas and Catbalogan City.

Pinabacdao Mayor Dr. Mario Quijano confirmed the distribution report through a text message to this writer.

In an informal talk with fellow media, Roger Soria, who was with the group to document the event, PIA learned that the program aims to beef up food sufficiency in the province and to provide additional livelihood to farmers in the second district of Samar.

The young representative of Samar has started fulfilling her promises to her constituents. Just last week, Rep. Tan sponsored the training of some Botika ng Bayan operators in her district. She and mom, Governor Mila Tan has also sponsored cataract operations at the Samar Provincial Hospital.