VP NOLI LAUDS ISABELA FARMERS FOR HIGH RICE PRODUCTION
May 12, 2008

Vice President Noli “Kabayan” De Castro praised farmers in Isabela for exerting their effort to make the supply of rice sufficient in the country.

Speaking during the celebration of Isabela Day recently (May 7), De Castro said Isabela farmers harvested a total of 1.036 metric tons of palay in 2007.

The figure, he said, is the second biggest harvest by a province in the entire country.

Data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed Isabela was second to Nueva Ecija which harvested 1.356 metric tons of palay.

Pangasinan followed Isabela at third place with a total palay harvest of 1.011 million metric tons, the DA figure said.

Despite the figures however, De Castro said Isabela, particularly its farmers, still deserved a special congratulation for being more creative with the way they till and utilize the arable lands of the province.

He explained that of the top three rice-producing provinces, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan have vast plains that are conducive to planting and growing Filipinos' staple crop.

"Isabela in contrast, has a hilly, sloping terrain. In other words, the challenge to plant and harvest palay is bigger for Isabela farmers. Based on your harvest record, it is clear that Isabela farmers have done a very good job," he said.

Aside from the farmers, De Castro also cited local officials led by Isabela governor Grace Padaca, 2nd district Rep. Edwin Yu, Gamu Mayor Fernando Cumigad and the board members led by Jaime Atayde for providing the necessary support for the farmers.

While in Isabela, De Castro also took time to monitor prices of basic goods and commodities at the Ilagan public market.

Except for commercial rice, prices of all goods were normal during the market inspection of De Castro.

"Prices were almost the same compared to those in Metro Manila," he said.

However, he said prices of commercial rice in Isabela should not be the same with those in Manila . Rice vendors in the province reasoned out that cost of fertilizers in Manila are affecting the price of rice in the province.

"This can't be since fertilizers are no longer transported from Manila to Isabela. You already have fertilizers here," he said.

De Castro nevertheless vowed to continue his price monitoring in other parts of the country. He expressed plans to return to Isabela to inspect the Cauayan Market.

Cauayan Mayor Cesar Dy who welcomed and sent off De Castro at the Cauayan airport during the Isabela visit said he will be looking forward for the vice president's return in the province.

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