Three more farmer organizations received Farm Mechanization Service Facility under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) – Small Livelihood Project (SLP) in an awarding ceremony held at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan on November 15, 2017.

The Imbalbalatong Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Progressive Cooperative of Oraan East MPC were awarded a four-wheel tractor with complete implements each, while the Mamarlao Multi-Purpose Cooperative was awarded seven (7) power tillers.

The tractors and power tillers are targeted to decrease the expenses incurred by farmers for hauling and land preparation. Mr. Romeo Bambilla, OIC Manager of Imbalbalatong Multi-Purpose Cooperative, said that the tractor will provide discounts in hauling and land preparation costs for the Cooperative members. He also said that the tractor will provide a cheaper option compared to tractors owned by private individuals.

I-SUPPORT Component Head Ms. Sharon A. Viloria, who represented DA RFO 1 Dir. Lucrecio R. Alviar Jr. encouraged the farmer organizations to maintain the tractors and to exert efforts to sustain them as enterprises.

Including the three tractors, the Province of Pangasinan has availed of 25 SLPs for its farmer organizations. The SLP is the Project’s response to the detrimental effects of Typhoon Lando which hit Luzon in October 2015.

The aforementioned farm tractors are among the last batch of SLPs awarded to farmer organizations. Submission of proposals for SLP has ended in December 2016 and the PRDP is looking to implement all SLPs by November 2017. At present, there are only six remaining SLPs in Region 1 yet to be awarded. ### (Dessa U. Estrada and Vida V. Cacal, RPCO 1 InfoACE)