DEVASTATING FLOOD. Flooded farms during the height of Typhoon Ulysses in Cagayan. The farmers in the province will soon get a PHP2-billion assistance from the government. (Photo courtesy of Cagayan Provincial Information Office)
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Typhoon-affected farmers in Cagayan Valley will soon receive food and cash assistance and benefit from the PHP2-billion worth of projects from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
DA regional director Narciso Edillo told the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday that the fund -- as confirmed by Secretary William Dar during his visit to the region along with President Duterte over the weekend -- covers inbred and hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer, hybrid corn and assorted vegetable seeds, seedling trays, soilless/potting media, poultry, goat, and duck livelihood program, and food and cash assistance.
The interventions will be distributed to the farmer-beneficiaries in time for the start of dry planting season in coordination with local government units, he added.
The National Food Authority has also allocated rice assistance. It committed to provide 18,500 bags of well-milled rice for Isabela and 14,500 bags for Cagayan, amounting to PHP41 million.
For Cagayan, a certificate of award for PHP846 million worth of project assistance was already turned over by Secretary Dar to Governor Manuel Mamba.
For Isabela, the total allocation is PHP986 million; PHP148 million for Nueva Vizcaya; and PHP96 million for Quirino.
Due to the extent of damage caused by Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) as well as past typhoons, agriculture officials have been asking the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council through the endorsement of the Office of Civil Defense Regional Office 2 for more funds.
Typhoons Pepito, Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses had caused damage reaching an estimated amount of PHP2 billion in Cagayan Valley, Edillo said.
“For typhoon Ulysses alone, our initial damage on crops and livestock is PHP79 million covering 11,512 hectares with estimated 15,867 affected farmers,” he added. (PNA)
