After the police, here comes the army.
“I am glad that what we are making progress in what we have started in the past. This is what partnership can do. We were here with President Rodrigo Duterte and Secretary Emmanuel Pinol last year, and aside from the tractor that we have given, we will see to it that assistance from the Department of Agriculture will be sustained,” Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo said in his message during the Hand-Over Ceremony at the Headquarters of the 5th Infantry Division at Camp Melchor F Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela on January 31, 2019.
RED Edillo was invited as Guest of Honor during the hand-over ceremony of the egg-laying machine by the Aboitiz Group of Companies to the Star Troopers.
“With 546 hectares and a big parcel of it devoted to organic agriculture and livestock, we are making great strides. The efforts of the uniformed men, our heroes, cannot be gainsaid. With your number and with your force multipliers, the advocacy of the Department of Agriculture will surely be met,” Edillo said.
“You are not only men in uniform. You also have a family. Therefore, we must feed our own people. You must also feed your family,” he added.
He explained that with other private sectors emulating backyard gardening and organic farming, food sufficiency is ensured.
For her part, Ms. Maria Theresa Castillo, a representative from Aboitiz Group of Companies thanked RED Edillo.
“This is only a start of their partnership with DA and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” she said. “We will always support the mandate of DA.”
Meantime, Major General Perfecto M. Rimando, Jr. AFP, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division said that they will continue to develop more income generating and livelihood program in the camp.
“With the help of DA, we envision not only to establish an agro-organic site, but we will also aspire to make a portion of the camp as a tourist spot. We are thankful that we have reached this far, and that we continue to improve,” the Camp Commander added.
RED Edillo, Ms. Castillo and MGen Rimando toured the site where the farmers planted vegetables, raised free-range chickens, and wild pigs after the ceremony.