DA allots P8.5B for recovery aid of typhoon-hit farmers, fishers

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday it has initially disbursed and distributed P8.5 billion worth of various interventions for the recovery of farmers and fisherfolk hit by recent typhoons that ravaged Luzon in late October and early November.

"On behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, we will continue to provide our typhoon- and flood-affected farmers and fisherfolk in Luzon and other areas with immediate assistance to tide them over and start anew," Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Ariel Cayanan said the interventions comprise of quality seeds of inbred and hybrid rice, corn and vegetables; cassava seed pieces; fertilizers; farm machinery and equipment; ready-to-lay chicken, ducks, quails, goats, native pigs, and other livestock animals; animal feeds, veterinary drugs and biologics; fingerlings, fiberglass fishing boats; and post harvest equipment.

Of the total P8.5-billion assistance, the bulk was extended to farmers and fishers in Cagayan Valley and Bicol, the two hardest-hit regions, receiving P2.34 billion and P1.07 billion, respectively, in the form of various agri-fishery assistance and interventions.

Other typhoon and flood affected farmers and fishers in five regions also received the corresponding assistance:

• Cordillera Administrative Region – P382 million
• Region 1 (Ilocos) – P313.8M 

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• Region 3 (Central Luzon) - P281.5M 
• Region 4A (CALABARZON) - P736M 
• Region 4B (MIMAROPA) - P914M

Of the total DA assistance, Cayanan said the bulk was provided by the DA banner programs such as rice, corn, and high value crops worth P4.06 billion, followed by food and cash aid at P1.33 billion, quick response fund at P641.82 million, DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources P670 million, P800 million emergency and livelihood loans from the DA's Agricultural Credit Policy Council, and P1-billion insurance payments from the DA's Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

Total damage to the country's agri-fishery sector due to the seven successive typhoons -- Nika, Ofel, Pepito, Quinta, Rolly, Siony, and Ulysses -- in October and November has to date reached P12.8 billion.

In terms of production value, the biggest impact was from Typhoons Rolly, Ulysses, and Quinta that recorded P5.79 billion,  P4.18 billion, and P2.66 billion worth of losses, respectively.

Due to early weather warnings to farmers by the DA, it said more than P32 billion worth of rice, corn, vegetables and fruit crops, and aquaculture species were saved.

For rice, some 1.94 million metric tons worth P30.1 billion from 445,376 hectares were spared, while corn farmers were able to save 161,824 MT worth P1.98 billion. —LBG, GMA News