DA to continue to aid farmers as agri damage climbs to over P357M

FILE: FOOD SECURITY. Farmers plant rice seedlings in Sumapang Matanda, Malolos, Bulacan on Thursday (Sept. 14, 2023). (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set for another rollout of aid to farmers as the country’s agriculture suffered PHP357.38 million worth of damage and losses due to the strong and mature El Niño.

According to its latest bulletin released on Sunday, the DA said 7,668 farmers are affected in the Ilocos Region, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Majority of losses were recorded in rice production, affecting 11,480 metric tons worth PHP284.27 million followed by corn, 2,897 MT worth PHP60.70 million, and high-value crops (HVC), 225 MT, amounting to PHP12.41 million.

“The Department of Agriculture will distribute vegetable seeds in Western Visayas and Ilocos Regions as well as planting materials for high-value crops that require less water in the Zamboanga Peninsula,” the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said.

Besides the distribution of vegetable seeds and planting materials, the DA shall also promote the use of drought-resistant crop varieties and secure pest management operations in areas with low rainfall levels.

“The DA continuously adopts the alternate wetting-and-drying method that has reduced water consumption in rice fields. The agency is also considering (the) use of solar-powered irrigation systems to augment water supply in areas vulnerable to drought,” it added.

The department earlier started its cloud-seeding operations in Cagayan Valley and distributed hybrid rice seeds and fertilizers to farmers in Western Visayas.

The DA, meanwhile, vowed to continuously help the agriculture sector in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through endorsements for financial and livelihood assistance.

Curbing water pilferage

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be on the lookout against water pilferage as part of El Niño mitigation measures.

“Yung ating kapulisan (Our cops) will intensify the operations against this pilferage, puwede kaming tumulong diyan sa mga (we can help those) water companies in the conduct of investigation on this water pilferage. But definitely, as an organization, we have this policy on energy and water conservation. We are reminding our personnel on that,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda told reporters in a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Meanwhile, Acorda directed police regional offices to intensify the campaign against activities that are deemed harmful to the environment.

“I am directing all our regional offices especially those with mining areas, yung mga irresponsible mining at saka yung mga walang mga papeles (irresponsible mining activities and those without proper documents). I discussed this with the DO (Directorate for Operations) about running after this kind of operations. Also, we are also on the lookout against illegal logging, as its effects can contribute to the El Niño’s impact,” he added.

In January, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) No. 53 to streamline, reactivate, and reconstitute the old El Niño task forces under EO No. 16 (s. 2001) and Memorandum Order No. 38 (s. 2019).

Under EO No. 53, the President instructed the task force to secure a comprehensive disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan and ensure “systematic, holistic, and results-driven interventions” to aid the Filipinos and alleviate the devastating effects of disasters. (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)