DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 18 June) – The damage to agricultural crops in the Davao region due to the El Niño phenomenon was estimated to reach P203 million, an official from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Davao said.
Speaking during the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” on Tuesday, Joedel Leliza, focal person of DA-Davao’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management, said that high value crops such as banana, cacao, coffee, and corn in this city and the provinces of Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental were severely affected by the drought.
He said the El Niño, which is characterized by a dry spell and below normal rainfall, affected a total of 14,736 farmers, covering an area of 7,155.49 hectares.
He said that the DA-Davao would craft a “rehabilitation plan” for possible funding from the national government and consult their counterparts from local governments on interventions that the affected farmers may need.
Macario D. Gonzaga, DA-Davao regional executive director, said their agency has allocated an initial budget of P24.550 million to support the farmers heavily affected by the drought.
He said that among the interventions that the regional office has provided to rice farmers include cash assistance worth P5,000 for the purchase of hybrid rice seeds.
Gonzaga said that affected farmers also received P10,000 each from the Office of the President.
Last June 6, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured that the national government would help the farmers who were severely affected by the onslaught of El Niño in the Davao Region.
During his speech at the distribution of presidential assistance at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum City, Marcos assured the affected farmers and fisherfolk that the national government is working closely with the local government units to ensure that support will reach them and their families.
Marcos led the turnover of various projects amounting to P36 million, including agri-fishery livelihood projects, post-harvest facility, equipment and materials under the DA; fiberglass reinforced plastic boats, fishing gear and paraphernalia under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); and toolkits under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority .
He also distributed cash assistance amounting to P30 million, or P10 million each to select beneficiaries in the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao Occidental.
Marcos added that he has directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and BFAR to improve the supply of fish through aquaculture production and planting of mangroves. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
