Oriental Mindoro farmers affected by heat, fuel price hikes receive food packs from GMA Kapuso Foundation

The GMA Kapuso Foundation has extended its help to farmers in Oriental Mindoro who have been affected by the heat and fuel price hikes 

In a “24 Oras" report on Wednesday, farmer Eustaquio Arteza said they are being overtaken by rising expenses due to high fuel prices, leaving them to rely on rainfall instead of using water pumps for irrigation.

“Tatalunin kami sa gastos gawa ng mahal ang krudo, so ang aming paghahanda dito, maghihintay kami ng patak ng ulan,” he said.

This harvest season, Eustaquio was able to sell over 200 bags of rice but still incurred losses due to the costs of fertilizer, irrigation, and renting a combine harvester.

Per Eustaquio, he was not included among those who will receive cash assistance from the Department of Agriculture because priority is given to farmers with farms of two hectares or less. 

“Ang una po nila agad tinignan ay ‘yung kanilang ihahain sa hapag-kainan. Sa ngayon po, lahat po kami wala po kaming kinita,” Eustaquio said.

City Agricultural Services Department officer-in-charge Pamela Escarez-Rago also highlighted the needs of their community.

“Ang problema po namin ngayon ay ‘yung parating na taniman, kasi po ay mangangailangan dito ng hanggang 400 liters. Ang naging aksyon po ng Department of Agriculture, magbibigay po sila ng ayuda sa mga magsasaka,” she said.

To help, the GMA Kapuso Foundation distributed food packs to farmers from seven barangays in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, benefiting a total of 5,200 individuals.

For those who wish to support GMA Kapuso Foundation's projects, donations may be made via Metrobank, Land Bank, BDO, Bank of Commerce, UnionBank, PNB, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Lazada, Shopee, and Palawan Pay. Visit the GMA Kapuso Foundation website for more information.

—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA News