Former DA Secretary and senatorial bet Manny Piňol, who is running under the Lacson-Sotto wing, flashes the thumbs-up sign along with members of a large farming group based in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija led by Danilo Bolos during his second visit to the town on Tuesday. Photo by STEVE A. GOSUICO
EX-DA head eyes construction of CL’s 1st processing complex in Ecija
STA. ROSA, Nueva Ecija — Senatorial bet and former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piňol proposed to build Central Luzon’s first rice processing complex in this town as one of the country’s pilot areas to help boost the income of the farmer’s sector, targeting to modernize the rice farming industry and help ensure stable supply of the food staple.
Piňol, who was in Bgy. Tagpos here last October after he filed his certificate of candidacy for senator, returned to this town on Tuesday and interacted with Novo Ecijano farmers and fishermen led by Danilo Bolos to reiterate his plans for them once elected to the Senate.
He told the group, which included Municipal Mayor Josefino “Otep” Angeles, Association of Barangay Captains president Rommel Marcelo and Councilor Roberto Jacinto, that he planned to put up a modern rice processing complex in this town similar to the one already built by a private firm with the help of the DA in Alangalang, Leyte in 2019.
“Uulitin ko po kapag pinalad tayo, babalikan kita Mayor (Angeles) at gagawin nating modelo ang Santa Rosa sa sinasabi nating rice processing complex to make it the model for Central Luzon, pinaka-unang bayan na lalagyan natin ng rice processing complex kung saan ay hindi na maghihirap ang mga magsasaka ng palay sa kahahanap kung saan magbibilad, kahahanap kung saan magbebenta,” said the former DA Secretary, who is running for senator under the platform of “Tunay na Magsasaka sa Senado: Pagkain at Trabaho.”
Piňol, a holder of a doctorate degree in Rural Development from the University of Southern Mindanao, said this putting up of rice processing complex throughout the country is his novel idea to revolutionize the planting of palay from mere “backyard farming” into an enterprising “rice farming industry or business.”
