As part of the immediate assistance of the national government to the farmers and fisherfolk of the province of Pangasinan affected by typhoons Henry and Josie, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol committed over P180 million (M) worth of assistance and interventions for the rehabilitation of damaged farms and fishery areas.
During a dialogue with local government officials at the at Sison Auditorium of the Provincial Capitol in Lingayen, Pangasinan, on July 26, 2018, Piñol stressed that he wants restoration efforts be implemented as soon as possible.
The agri chief surveyed the vast effects of the twin typhoons in Northern Luzon provinces after an aerial inspection over Bataan, Tarlac and Pangasinan.
“I admit na maaring di kayang sagutin lahat ng gobyerno ang pagsaaayos pero susubukan naming kahit paano na maibsan ang mga nasira ng bagyo,” Pinol said.
Damages in Pangasinan reached P449.63-M with the rice sector posting P420-M agri damage covering 29,313 hectare (ha) ricefields; damage in fisheries reached P0.23-M affecting 3,578ha of brackishwater fishponds and 282ha of freshwater fishponds.
The vegetable sector was also heavily damaged with P24.3 M loss affecting 306 ha of production area, while livestock suffered P3.61 M in damages.
The Pangasinan Provincial Agriculture Office also reported damages in 12 communal irrigation systems which requires immediate rehabilitation.
After the dialogue, the agri chief led the awarding of 32,000 bags of certified and hybrid seeds worth and 100 bags of corn seeds. He also directed the Agricultural Credit Policy Council to provide immediate financial literacy workshop for the implementation of Survival and Recovery (SURE) loan and Production Loan Easy Access credit program (PLEA) in the province.
“Under the Survival and Recovery Assistance Program (SURE) of ACPC, we will lend every individual P5,000 up to P25,000 in financial assistance upon validation of damages. In addition, I am instructing ACPC to allot P50 M for Pangasinan out of the P100 M existing under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) for Ilocos and Pangasinan,” Piñol said.
He also announced that 50 units of fishing boats equipped with complete fishing gear are ready to be turned-over.
On a positive note, Piñol announced that the Food and Agriculture Office’s projection of bumper harvest for rice may still be achieved this year.
“We are positive that farmers will recover, as reports indicate that only .49 percent from our total target have been affected by the typhoons,” he said.
“While the typhoon will slightly affect the third quarter output, it has brought benefits to our varieties planted on non-irrigated areas,” he added. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
