FLOODS. Some parts of Laoag City are still underwater due to heavy rains brought about by Tropical Storm Ineng on Saturday (Aug. 24, 2019). The city and the province of Ilocos Norte were both placed under state of calamity. (PNA photo by Leilanie Adriano)
MANILA -- With Ilocos Norte having been placed under state of calamity due to Tropical Storm Ineng, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will be providing emergency loan assistance to affected farmers of the province.
“We have funds available. We are ready to provide emergency financial assistance under SURE (Survival and Recovery) program -- granting PHP25,000 (at) zero-interest, (and) payable up to three years,” said DA Secretary William Dar in a statement on Sunday.
He said the DA-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) will disburse the loan assistance through Nueva Segovia Cooperative.
The SURE loan assistance, which is being implemented by the DA-ACPC, aims to support the government's goal of helping agricultural households in calamity-affected areas regain their capacity to earn a living, and provide immediate relief to small farmers and fisherfolk through loan and emergency assistance package.
Ilocos Norte was placed under state of calamity by the Sangguniang Panglalawigan after the tropical storm left PHP111 million worth of damages to agriculture and infrastructure as of Saturday.
According to the Ilocos Norte government, the estimated PHP65.4 million infrastructure damage include flood and river control projects, roads, bridges, and irrigation facilities. Agricultural damage on rice fields, fisheries, high value commercial crops, and livestock amounted to more than PHP45.5 million, it added. (PNA)
