KADIWA ON WHEELS. The Department of Agriculture (DA) deploys Kadiwa on wheels to distribute highland vegetables to affected residents in Ilocos Region and Abra, on Friday (July 29, 2022), following the July 27 magnitude 7 earthquake. As of the latest data, damage to agriculture has now reached PHP28.7 million. (Photo courtesy: Department of Agriculture)
MANILA – Damage from the July 27 magnitude 7 earthquake to the agriculture sector has reached PHP28.7-million, according to the Department of Agriculture- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DA-DRRM) Operations Center on Friday.
Recent data from the DA-DRRM showed that both the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Ilocos Region suffered damage and losses from the quake, particularly on irrigation systems, farm-to-market roads, and farm structures.
The losses included PHP19,172,000 in the irrigation systems in the provinces of Abra and Ilocos Sur.
"According to the National Irrigation Administration, the damage has been incurred on the Main Canal (150 meters) of the Banaoang Pump Irrigation System in the Municipality of Bantay, Ilocos Sur affecting irrigation service to about 2,000 hectares of agricultural land," the DA said.
Meanwhile, damage to agricultural infrastructure has reached PHP9,567,475 in Abra.
To aid affected families, the DA has already deployed two units of Kadiwa trucks to immediately distribute food supply.
"DA-RFO CAR has mobilized two units of KADIWA trucks loaded with 3 metric tons of assorted highland vegetables, dried fish, and other basic food items to municipalities in the province of Abra," the DA said.
Besides highland vegetables, adequate rice supply is also ensured for CAR, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.
Likewise, rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds will also be distributed alongside financial assistance to the affected sector. (PNA)
