The Rotary Balita no. 681 (September 27, 1951)

The United States Special Technical Economic Mission in Manila and the Philippine Council for U.S. Aid have just announced new Economic Cooperation Administration grants totaling $955,000 to increase irrigation of rice lands in the Philippines. Added to $700,000 previously authorized. the ECA funds allocated thus far for irrigation equipment in the Philippines totals 135 pumps $1,655,000, which include powered by diesel engine power plants and related equipment. The tremendous contribution of this aid to the overall agricultural rehabilitation and development program cannot be underestimated. Potentially rich by gift of nature, Philippine soil should yield a record produce that should surpass the most optimistic expectations, or at least a produce that is unprecedented in local agriculture. With the equipment, the United States is sending over an expert irrigation engineer who will start work next month. The golden opportunity which the Filipino farmer has been waiting for is here. The rest is up to our people. The soil on which so much depends their prosperity and happiness is now about to yield abundance. All that is needed now is hard work. Let us not fail in that.