DAR AIDS TAAL VICTIMS. DAR Secretary John Castriciones and Eton International School president Jacqueline Tolentino (wearing black long sleeves) distribute relief goods to families affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano. The agency vowed to keep the help pouring in for the victims, especially the farmers and fisherfolk who lost their livelihood. (Photo courtesy of DAR)
MANILA -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed more than 500 bags of relief goods to the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption in Batangas.
The relief goods that contain rice, canned goods, noodles, bottled water, and biscuits reached the towns of Tanauan and Bauan on Thursday.
In a statement on Friday, DAR Secretary John Castriciones guaranteed the townsfolk that help would keep on pouring in as the agency continues to find ways to gather more goods and donations to distribute.
“All we need now are prayers that activities in the volcano would stop. Let’s have faith and try to be calm amidst the situation. The challenge here is how you will stand up and return to your normal lives,” he said.
He added that some have no more houses to return to but the government is there to help them rebuild.
Recently, DAR has signed a memorandum of agreement with the newly-established Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for a housing program, called Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive (BALAI) Farmers and Farmworkers’ Housing.
It is one of the priority programs of the government that aims to improve the living condition of farmer-beneficiaries in the country.
Under the agreement, the DHSUD shall develop and adopt a national strategy to immediately address the provision of adequate and affordable housing to farmers.
The Department of Agriculture, on the other hand, has announced that farmers can avail of three-year zero-interest loans of PHP25,000.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the amount is payable in three years under the Survival and Recovery Assistance Program.
The farmers and fisherfolk, who were devastated by the calamity, also have the option to loan a higher amount under the Micro and Small Agribusiness Loan Program.
On Monday, the DA said ashfall in Cuenca, Lemery, and Taal in Batangas has affected 752 hectares of agricultural land and has caused an initial PHP74.55 million in damage to crops. (PNA)
