Local Tobacco farmers expressed their joy and gratitude to the City Government for facilitating their receipt of a new batch of farming equipment. 

63 units of water pumps, 126 units of knapsack sprayers and 4 shredders were distributed to farmers from Bungro, Baraoas, Calabugao, Dallangayan Este, Dallangayan Oeste, Nagyubuyuban, Narra Este, Narra Oeste, Pacpaco, Pao Norte, Pao Sur, Puspus, Sacyud, Sagayad, Santiago Sur, and Tanquigan.

Lolo Dominador Jucar, who has been farming for 60 years now, said: “Tatta laeng nga naaramid daytuy babaen kenni Apo Dong Gualberto agyam-yamanak iti City Government ta manipud idi nangrugi ak nga nagtalunen tatta laeng nga adda ti kastuy nga prebeliheyo gundaway mi nga agtalatalun.” 

[“This is the first time that this has happened, thanks to Mayor Dong Gualberto. I am thankful to the City Government, because since I started farming, this is the first time that we farmers have received this privilege.”]

Lola Lilia Flores, 65 years old and farming for 50 years, also expressed her gratitude: “Agayaman kami ta adda ti kastuy nga iyawat da nga usaren mi ta dakami haan kami makagatang iti gamit mi, ket dakkel launay nga pagyamanan mi iti city Government daytuy, Agyaman kami unay ti dakkel kenni po Mayor nga Dong iti impaay na nga dagituy nga mak-makina ken sprayer.”

[“We are thankful that we received these equipment from the City Government because we ourselves can not afford to buy these kind of farm implements. We are very thankful to our city Mayor Dong Gualberto for these machinery and sprayers.”]

This support for the Tobacco farmers is mandated by RA 7171, an act to promote the development of the farmer in the Virginia Tobacco producing provinces. Under this law, the 15% of excise taxes on locally manufactured Virginia-type cigarettes are to be equally distributed to provinces with an average annual production of 1 million kilos of Virginia Tobacco. 

City councilors Chary Nisce, Ernesto Rafon, Rizaldy Laudencia and Arnel Almazan graced the turnover held at the at the food terminal in Biday.

Contrary to what Lolo Dominador said, these equipment are not a privilege, but rather, their right. The City Government will continuously work to ensure that the People of San Fernando get what they deserve. Ditoy #SanFernandoTayo, #WalangMaiiwan.