The Department of Agriculture (DA), in collaboration with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), conducted a follow-up visit on March 15 to farms in Oriental Mindoro that were significantly impacted by the El Niño phenomenon.
During the visit, the DA provided additional support to farmers suffering from the adverse effects of the drought. Approximately P9 million in assistance has already been distributed to the affected farmers.
DA Undersecretary for Operations, Roger Navarro, along with Assistant Secretary U-Nichols Manalo and PCO Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama, led the inspection in severely hit areas. They facilitated the distribution of financial support to 100 farmers within Brgy. Teresita, Mansalay—a municipality declared under state of calamity due to El Niño’s harsh impact.
ASec. Villarama assured farmers that government is doing everything to aid the farmers recover from their loss.
“Andiyan ang pagtitiyak ng gobyerno, sa pamamahala ni President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos,Jr., na ginagawa ang lahat para maibsan ang epekto ng El Niño,” he said.
An initial amount of P250,000 was disbursed from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council to 10 farmers as part of the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan program, which also processed loan applications for numerous impacted farmers. Usec. Navarro highlighted the DA’s commitment to allocating P80 million in interest-free loans for over 3,000 affected farmers in Mansalay and Bulalacao, ensuring repayment flexibility over three years as their financial situations improve.
On top of financial loans, the DA is set to provide seeds of palay, corn, assorted vegetables and fuel assistance to aid farmers from burdens caused by El Niño.
Usec. Navarro reassured the community, emphasizing DA’s interventions, led by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, to assist farmers and fisherfolk in overcoming these challenges.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation distributed indemnity insurance worth P395,460 to 41 farmers, and the Philippine Center for Postharvest and Mechanization donated a four-wheel drive tractor valued at P2.2 million to a farmers’ association. Additionally, 900 packets of assorted vegetables, worth P27,375, were handed out by the Regional High-Value Crops Development Program.
The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program had previously allocated P5.7 million in cash aid to 1,142 farmers from Bulalacao and Mansalay, with each farmer receiving P5,000.
Meanwhile Asst. Sec. Manalo, advised the farmers to listen to weather advisories and other information in preparation for other calamities.
“Magtulungan po tayo at malalampasan po natin ito,” he added.
Other DA officials present during the event include Field Operations OIC-Director Lorna Calda, ACPC Deputy Executive Director Ma Cristina Lopez, and other DA representatives.
Oriental Mindoro, a province in the MIMAROPA region, has been severely hit by the El Niño-induced dry spell, with damage amounting to P385 million across 1,549 hectares as of March 13, 2024.### (Denice Benosa, RAFIS-MIMAROPA)
