As part of ongoing inter-agency assistance to earthquake victims in Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is sharing with affected farmers 200 sacks of palay in Kidapawan City and municipalities of M’lang, Tulunan, and Makilala, in North Cotabato, and install 30 units of solar-powered lights in various evacuation centers.

Agriculture Secretary William Dollente Dar said the DA Regional Field Office (RFO) 12 has created three technical teams to assess and validate several agricultural facilities that were damaged by the series of earthquake and aftershocks in North Cotabato and other areas.

“We are also distributing relief goods to affected farmers, fisherfolk and other earthquake victims in North Cotabato, particularly in the towns of M’lang and Tulunan, in coordination with respective local government unit. We started early this month and will continue on as we receive donations from officials and staff of other DA RFOs, bureaus, attached agencies and corporations,” said DA-RFO 12 director Mila Casis.

She said initial estimates of damage amounted to P4.55 million, particularly in North Cotabato.

Casis added that they have set up a command center at DA-RFO 12 research and experiment station in Brgy. Balindog, Kidapawan City, that will receive relief items, preferably ready-to-eat meals, canned goods, bottled water, and toiletries, among others.

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For details, please contact:
Engr. Milagros C. Casis
Regional Executive Director,
Department of Agriculture 12
CP: 0929-7671208

[Photo courtesy of DA-RFO 12]