SEN. PACQUIAO THANKS DA SECRETARY FOR HELPING SARANGANI AGRI SECTOR
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Feb 2018
KIAMBA, Sarangani ? This rustic yet promising town is expected to make a headway in terms of economic growth with the formal opening of a new fish port facility here.
Senator Manny Pacquiao and Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Pi?ol led the turn-over ceremony of the P18-million fish port project and the distribution of 50 fiberglass boats to small fishermen here late last week.
Residents of Kiamba, one of the most promising towns in Sarangani, are primarily dependent on agriculture ? particularly fishing and farming ? for livelihood.
The new fish port facility was built through the auspices of Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), an agency under the umbrella of the DA.
On the same day, Sen. Pacquiao and DA Sec. Pi?ol led the ceremonial distribution of 50 fiberglass boats to local fishers.
Present during the turn-over ceremony were DA regional officials, Kiamba town mayor Raul Martinez, Sarangani Gov. Steve Solon and other local officials.
Aside from the fiberglass boats, Sec. Pi?ol and his staff distributed 200 bags of certified rice seeds, 100 bags of high-bred corn seeds, 50 sets of gill nets and two sets of fish aggregating device (FAD) or payao to local beneficiaries.
Sen. Pacquiao thanked Sec. Pi?ol for making good his promise to help the farmers and fisherfolk in Sarangani.
?We?ve been good friends way back when I was still a struggling boxer. I am really proud of him as a friend and as DA secretary. He?s an action man. Above all, he keeps his promise and he remains humble,? Sen. Pacquiao said.
Both Sen. Pacquiao and Sec. Pi?ol shared the same humble beginning. Using their God-given talent, the duo climbed up the ladder of success through sheer hardwork and discipline.
Albeit, treading at times separate paths, they stayed in constant touch with each other and remained the best of friends until today.
Sec. Pi?ol bared he is indebted to the eight-division boxing champ for being there when he was at the lowest ebb of his life.
?He had been there as a friend, helping me through thick and thin. I really appreciate it. I?m here not to pay my debt of gratitude but to heed his appeal to help the people particularly the poorest of the poor in Sarangani,? Sec. Pi?ol said.
Sen. Pacquiao claimed he did not ask for any personal favor from Sec. Pi?ol.
?I just appealed to him to include Sarangani in the DA projects. He responded accordingly and so I am so grateful. He is really a big asset of the Duterte administration,? Sen. Pacquiao said.
Sec. Pi?ol further revealed that about a thousand fiberglass boats will be distributed to the fisherfolk in Sarangani and General Santos.
The top DA official had also promised to set aside a budget for the construction of a cold storage facility for the fisherfolk here.
A cold storage plant will complement the existence of a newly-built Kiamba fishport. Without it, the presence of a fish port would hardly make a big impact on the lives of the local fishers.
Photo: Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol led the ceremonial turn-over of 50 fiberglass fishing boats to fisherfolk in Kiamba town, Sarangani. (L-R) DA Sec. Pi?ol, Kiamba town mayor Raul Martinez, Sen. Pacquiao and Sarangani governor Steve Solon. Photo by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
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