Lubao Fisherfolks, Farmers receive Assistance from LGU

By Albert B. Lacanlale

LUBAO, Pampanga—Fisherfolks and farmers from various barangays in this municipality on Thursday received seedlings, equipment and cash assistance from the local government unit here.

Mayor Esmeralda G. Pineda directed the municipal agriculture office, headed by Maria Q. David, to distribute motorboat engines, fishing nets and other equipment, as well as P1,000 financial assistance, to 190 indigent individuals from fishing villages of Lubao.

More than 300,000 bangus (milkfish) fingerlings, worth P178,000 were given to 10 fishermen from Barangays Balantacan, San Juan, Sta. Monica, and Sta. Tereza 2nd. Recipients from the latter barangay also took home nine multi-filament shade nets that costs P2,000 each.

Some P180,000 worth of gill nets (each priced at P1,500) were divided among Barangays Sta. Catalina, Bancal Sinubli, Bancal Pugad, Remedios and San Juan.

The 51 motor engines, which were imported from Japan, were allocated for the fisherfolk of Sta. Tereza, Balantacan, Bancal Sinubli, and Bancal Pugad.

The total purchase price for the engines was pegged at P229,500. These will be used for the boats which were earlier donated to the fishermen.

Lubao produces bangus, tilapia, crabs, and prawns.

Farmers from different barangays, on the other hand, received certified palay seeds.

Each farmer was given 40 kilograms of seeds in preparation for the rainy season cropping.

P1,750,000 was shelled out for the purchase of the certified seeds.

The municipal government pledged to augment the assistance with fertilizer for the farmers to use during the cropping period.

Mayor Pineda, in a statement, said the municipal government’s assistance was facilitated as a mitigation effort to counter the effects of the massive community lockdowns.

She reminded the recipients to take advantage of the equipment to become more productive.