With Region V sustaining the highest death toll and damage on agriculture, Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol of the Department of Agriculture (DA) rushed to Bicol provinces on January 3 and 4, 2019 to personally inspect the areas heavily affected by Typhoon Usman and confer with local officials and farmers. Ret. Commodore Eduardo B. Gongona, Undersecretary for Fisheries and Jocelyn Alma Badiola, Executive Director of the Agriculture Credit Policy Council (ACPC), accompanied the Secretary.
In Masbate City, Piñol interacted with some 500 farmers and local officials as part of the efforts of the national government to bring projects and programs closer to the people. Here, he turned over more than P16-million (M) worth of agricultural assistance consisting of production inputs & farm equipment.
From Masbate, Piñol and the DA team flew to Libon, Albay and conferred with Mayor Wilfredo Maronilla. Here he also met with about a thousand farmers, local officials, heads of DA attached agencies, as well as the municipal agriculturists and extension workers.
For Albay, Piñol committed an additional P50M in funds thru the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) Programs managed by the ACPC. Under the Survival and Recovery Assistance (SURE) Loan Program, also an ACPC initiative, an emergency loan assistance of P5,000 will be immediately made available to farmers affected by the calamity. An additional P20,000 in recovery loan assistance will likewise be provided to farmers, which they can use to purchase the needed inputs so they can immediately restart farming/fishing operations and recoup from their losses.
“The government is here to help you. I urge everyone to avail of these loan assistance, and so when I come back here I can see the impact of these programs on your and your family’s lives,” Piñol said.
During the forum, the agri chief presented the Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS), which has been operating in some parts of the country now.
“In Camarines Sur, we have already established four units,” he added.
Piñol underscored the benefits of the said system, which is according to him is the best option for areas where big irrigation systems cannot be feasible.
“It is only worth about P6.5M and can irrigate 10 to 20 hectares of rice field,” he said adding that SPIS is not expensive to maintain because it is not dependent on gasoline or diesel or electric power.
He further explained that the technology is also very practical as this system uses pipes set up above the ground thus it is appropriate for any types of land terrain.
While in Albay, DA also turned-over to 15 municipalities and three cities various interventions and assistance totaling to over P3.5 million. These include certified palay and open pollinated variety white corn seeds, assorted vegetable seeds, ducks, cattle, turkeys, and native pigs.
On his second day in the region, Piñol met with Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, who is also the Regional Development Council (RDC) chair and the DA regional executive directors from the four typhoon-affected regions: CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol and Eastern Visayas to firm up the rehabilitation plan for the affected farmers and fisherfolk. Later during the day, the Secretary joined President Rodrigo Duterte during his visit in affected areas. (Emily B. Bordado, DA-RAFIS -5)
