Twenty-two out of school youths (OSY) from the municipalities of Banna, Solsona and Badoc in the province of Ilocos Norte received from the Department of Agriculture a total of 66 heads of cattle worth P4.4 million in a roll out activity today of cattle production project held at the Badoc Auction Market, Badoc, Ilocos Norte.

A project under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) that aims to provide livelihood opportunity for the out of school youths, the turn over ceremonies was led by DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban together with Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Angelo Marcos Barba.

In his message during the awarding ceremonies, Senior USec. Panganiban reminded the out of school youth recipients of their obligations in the program that will help them sustain and expand their cattle raising enterprise.

“Alagaan ninyong mabuti ang mga bakang matatanggap ninyo ngayon at kapag naibenta na ninyo, gamitin ninyong mabuti ang mapagbentahan ninyo para ito’y lumago,” Senior Usec Panganiban said.

Senior Usec Panganiban also highlighted various DA initiated projects in the province that is expected to further revitalize and boost agricultural productivity in the province.

He mentioned the P13 million irrigation projects in Bacarra, P26 million irrigation project in Batac City as well as the P80 million KADIWA project for the provincial government of Ilocos Norte that shall provide marketing assistance to agri-fishery products in the province.

Other projects that the good Senior USec informed is the P30million worth project to revive the operation of the National Foods Corporation and the P100 million investments for the improvement of the salt industry.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte 2nd District representative Angelo Marcos Barba and Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc who was represented by Board Member Jonathan Torralba expressed their gratitude to DA for continuously providing agri development programs and projects in the province towards attaining its vision to have a safer, stronger and more progressive province.

Aside from the roll out cattle raising activity, the DA likewise distributed a total of P5.6 million in the form of hybrid corn and vegetable seeds as well as shallow tube wells.

Taking advantage of the presence of Senior Usec Panganiban, he was also invited to grace the distribution of the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) given to 250 rice farmer individuals in Dingras, Ilocos Norte who received from DA each an amount of P5,500 intended for their rice farming operations. Fuel subsidy discount vouchers were also distributed to corn farmer-recipients including hybrid corn seeds and agri infra projects.