Partido towns eyed as food production hub of Bicol

Ten towns comprising the fourth congressional district of Camarines Sur, also known as Partido area, is being eyed as future food production hub that could serve the entire Bicol region.

Government regional offices led by the Department of Agriculture are working for a convergence initiative by agencies with functions involving food security concerns which include the National Irrigation Administration, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Food Authority, Philippine Rice Research Institute and Cooperative Development Authority.

The group has drafted a unified food production plan for the area which was done during a recent food summit in Tigaon town.

Partido, erstwhile the area local politicians unsuccesfully campaigned to partition from CamSur into a separate Nueva Camarines province, is composed of Sangay, Tigaon, San Jose, Goa, Lagonoy, Tinambac, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion and Siruma. The area is rich in natural resources but most of its approximately 100,000 households fall within the low-income earners.

By targeting the low-income earners, whose number is dominant among the other economic sectors in the area, DA Regional Executive Director Abelardo Bragas said the food production program is designed towards food security and raising the purchasing power of the sector and be able to contribute in addressing the province’s high poverty incidence.

Camarines Sur is geographically located in the central part of the Bicol peninsula, it is the best location for a regional food production hub, Bragas said.

The Partido area is generally hilly and mountainous with flat central area known as Bicol plain.

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