80K farmers, fishers affected by ‘Paeng’
Gov’t set to distribute aid, support
MORE than 80,000 farmers and fishers have been affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng”, which hit 11 regions in the country over the weekend.
In its Bulletin No. 7 on STS “Paeng”, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has recorded a total of 80,295 farmers and fishers from Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Marinduque, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon), Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Mindanao, and Soccsksargen regions have been affected.
The DA reported that the damage and losses incurred in agriculture products and farmlands amounted to P2.86 billion, with the volume of production loss at 116,291 metric tons (MT) and 86,574 hectares of agricultural areas.
Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock, and poultry. Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures, machinery, and equipment.
To help the farmers recover their losses, the DA will be distributing P1.74-billion worth of rice seeds, P11.57 million worth of corn seeds, and P20.01 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds.
The DA will also provide P176,000 worth of animal heads, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry farmers.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), on the other hand, will distribute fingerlings, rehabilitation, and loan assistance to affected fisherfolks.
The DA allotted the amount of P400 million for the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) for the affected farmers and fishers, wherein they can loan up to P25,000, payable in three years at zero interest.
Likewise, the DA has readied its Quick Response Fund (QRF) to rehabilitate Paeng-affected areas.
