The Pangasinan State University-Infanta Campus (PSU-IC) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) sealed another collaboration with the distribution of farm machineries and equipment for Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBO) to further enhance agricultural productivity in the area.
DAR Secretary and proud son of Pangasinan, Hon. Conrado M. Estrella III was the event’s guest of honor and speaker. He was ably represented by Hon. Albert Estrella who turned over one unit of farm tractor to the ARBOs in Infanta town held at the PSU Infanta Campus in a ceremony on July 3, 2024.
“Naniniwala po ako na hindi lang magsasaka ang marunong magtanim; lahat po tayo ay marunong magtanim hindi lang po halaman o gulay at mais, pero ang tinatanim rin po natin ay kabutihang-loob. Tayo ay magtanim ng malasakit at pagmamahal para marami po tayong anihin para sa mga susunod nating henerasyon pagdating sa larangan ng agrikultura,” the younger Estrella said.
The tractor is in addition to a rice reaper and the construction of two farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in the municipality. A tissue culture laboratory is also established under the supervision of the Pangasinan State University (PSU) Infanta Campus. All of these were awarded to the farmer group through the Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities (SuRe ARCs), according to DAR Regional Director Maria Ana B. Francisco.
In his address, University President Dr. Elbert M. Galas highlighted PSU’s commitment to the community.
“𝐴𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑆𝑈𝐶, 𝑤𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛; 𝑤𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛. 𝑊𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝐷𝐴𝑅 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡, 𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑛ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚𝑠, 𝑐𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑑𝑠,” Dr. Galas quipped.
Infanta Campus Executive Director Dr. Elmer C. Vingua also expressed his gratitude for DAR’s endless support for PSUnians, particularly in making the tissue laboratory project possible for the community.
DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Atty. Kazel C. Celeste echoed the department’s commitment to Agrarian Reform, quoting the DAR Secretary.
“𝐿𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑏𝑖 𝑛𝑖 𝑆𝑒𝑐. 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑜 𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝐼𝐼𝐼, 𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑖 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑠𝑦𝑜 𝑛𝑔 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚, 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑠𝑦𝑜 𝑠𝑎 𝑚𝑔𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑜, 𝑠𝑎 𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑔𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑠𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑎.” 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐲. 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝 ‘𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐠’𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐬’ 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞.
Meanwhile, Infanta Mayor Marvin M. Martinez and ARBO Infanta President Mr. Edmund Molino couldn’t contain their happiness for the equipment awarded to the association perfectly timed to jumpstart their main cropping season this July.
📷: PSU Infanta Campus
