CASIGURAN, Aurora — Sen. Bam Aquino was invited by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to join the turnover of around P40 million worth of machinery, equipment and vehicles to farmers, fishermen and women’s organizations for the improvement of their livelihood.

“Malaki ang maitutulong ng mga kagamitang ito para mapalago ang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda at kababaihan dito sa Casiguran,” said Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Finance.

As vice chairman of the Committee on Finance in the Senate, Sen Aquino included in the 2018 National Budget (General Appropriations Act) P40 million to support livelihood projects for farmers and fisher folks in Casiguran.

Sen. Bam witnessed the turnover of machinery and equipment to their respective organizations in Thursday’s mass awarding together with Mayor Ricardo Bitong, DA Regional Executive Director Roy Abaya, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Lilian Garcia and other local officials.

Among those distributed by DA to farmers were two hand tractors with trailers and implements, two rice combine harvesters with heavy duty transport trailers, two floating tillers, two rice/paddy transplanters, four mini-four wheel tractor with heavy duty trailer, five shallow tube wells, one multi-crop thresher and one multi-purpose shredder.

Fishermen, for their part, received one commercial fishing vessel, 14 payaw and one 10-wheeler refrigerated van and two light boats, while livestock raisers and indigenous people received 80 cattles.

Organic farmers and indigenous people received 72 kilos of vermiworms, two units of vermin beds and multiplier farm with 22 goats, 22 sheep and 17 native pigs. The PIGLASCA Women’s Association and Rural Improvement Club received food processing equipment, freezer and refrigerator for food product manufacturing.

Sen. Bam hopes this will boost their livelihood amid the high prices of goods, fuel and farm inputs, such as fertilizer.

“Sa pag-iikot natin, marami tayong narinig na daing mula sa ating magsasaka’t mangingisda tungkol sa mataas na presyo ng fertilizer, na dati’y P800 lang pero ngayon P1,200 na, pati na ng krudo para sa kanilang mga makinarya at bangkang pangisda” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May to remove taxes on petroleum products amid high prices of goods.

Sen. Bam’s law for free college also eases the financial burden of Filipino families by granting free tuition and miscellaneous fees in public universities and colleges.