DA allots P822M to aid Maring-hit farmers, fisherfolk

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said it has allotted an initial P822 million worth of various interventions to aid farmers and fishermen hit by Severe Tropical Storm Maring.

“We will continue to provide our typhoon and flood-affected farmers and fisherfolk in Northern Luzon and other areas with immediate aid and much-needed assistance to recover and start anew after the damage and loss in their livelihood and income,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

Of the total P822-million assistance, the DA said P650 million is allotted for provision of emergency loans to affected farmers and fishermen under the SURE (Survival and Recovery) Calamity Loan Assistance Program through the DA-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).

Each farmer or fisherman can borrow P20,000, at zero interest, no collateral and payable in 10 years.

Aside from the agricultural loan, the Agriculture department has allotted P172 million under its Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas in Regions 1, 2, and CAR.

These interventions are over and above the regular assistance provided by the DA to farmers and fishers affected by typhoons and other natural calamities, the agency said.

It said that ready for distribution are the following:

•     close to 169,000 bags of certified rice seeds
•     16,600 bags of certified corn seeds
•     1,480 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry
•     indemnification for affected farmers/fishers from Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC)

As of October 13, the DA said the estimated damage to agriculture has amounted to P692 million with 32,392 farmers and fisherfolk affected.

Damages and losses recorded were mostly on rice at P498 million, corn at P120 million, high value crops at P56 million, livestock and poultry at P6 million, and fisheries at P12 million.

“The damage could have been more massive had it not been for the early DA advisories and early warning system, as instructed by Secretary Dar, that enabled farmers and fishers to harvest early their crops and fishery products,” the Agriculture department said.

Due to early planting and harvesting, about 60% of the wet season rice crop was already harvested, it said.

Farmers were also forewarned to save their respective crops and livestock, including harvest of mature crops, draining of fields to avoid flooding, securing livestock to higher ground, and pruning of fruit trees, among other needed precautions, it added.

As a result, the DA said more than P2.86 billion worth of rice and corn were saved due to said early warning system.

For rice, some 141,635 metric tons (MT) worth P2.08 billion in Regions 1 and 2 were harvested, while corn farmers in Region 2 were able to save 55,654 MT worth P779.15 million.—AOL, GMA News