By William Agda
The Department of Agriculture in Caraga Region (DA-13) has allocated a PHP5 million grant to the provincial government of Dinagat Islands under the Enhanced Kadiwa Program, aimed at boosting the transport and marketing of agricultural and fishery products.
The grant, handed over on Wednesday, will be used to procure a winged-van hauler truck and a refrigerated van to facilitate the safe transport of perishable goods from farm and fishery areas to market centers. This follows the PHP1.6 million awarded to the municipality of Libjo a day earlier.
DA-13 Regional Executive Director Arlan Mangelen officially turned over the grant to Nilo Marco Demerey, who represented Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr., during a ceremony on December 18.
According to DA-13, the grant will support the province’s “Kadiwa sa Kapitolyo” initiative and other agribusiness activities, providing essential logistics to assist local farmers and fisherfolk in preserving product quality and enhancing market reach.
The provincial government expressed gratitude for the program, emphasizing its role in ensuring food security and maintaining an affordable supply of fresh produce and fishery products in local markets.
“The Enhanced Kadiwa Program is a significant contribution to our efforts to provide food security and strengthen the agricultural sector of Dinagat Islands,” the provincial government said in a statement.
The new facilities, made possible through the grant, are expected to directly benefit thousands of farmers and fisherfolk in the province.