Post-'Yolanda' rehab efforts reach majority of ravaged farms in E. Visayas - DA

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 29 (PNA) – More than half of Yolanda-stricken farms in Eastern Visayas have been covered by government-led recovery efforts in the past two years, a top regional agriculture official said.

Of the 406,000 hectares badly hit by the catastrophe in 2013, about 300,000 hectares have been covered by rehabilitation efforts of the Department of Agriculture.

“It is safe to say that about three-fourths of our affected farmers are on their way to rehabilitation because of recovery assistance,” Cañeda said.

In 2014, the DA regional office got an allocation of PHP502 million for post-Yolanda recovery. The 2015 allocation went down to PHP455 million, but the agriculture office here is still waiting for the release.

“We rely on regular funds intended for post-Yolanda rehabilitation while waiting for the release of 2015 allotment. Next year, we will get PHP160 million to finally put the rehabilitation programs to a close,” Cañeda added.

The government-led recovery assistance is on top of countless aid from non-government organization for the rehabilitation of Yolanda-hit farms.

“They are there to complement the recovery initiatives undertaken by the national government,” the official added. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

DA initially places 'Nona' damage in E. Visayas at PHP92.57M

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PNA) – The farming sector in eastern Visayas suffered PHP92.57 million production losses due to typhoon "Nona", the Department of Agriculture regional office here reported.

Of the total, PHP3.57 million losses were recorded in Biliran province, PHP5.47 million in Samar, PHP29.99 million in Eastern Samar, PHP53.51 million in Northern Samar. The typhoon has affected 3,642 farmers in four provinces.

Rice farmers bore the brunt of Nona’s wrath suffering PHP52 million losses, based on initial estimates. Another badly affected commodity is banana with PHP16.39 output losses.

Other crops that sustained damages are cassava (PHP4.36 million), vegetables (PHP2.04 million), corn (PHP22,791), root crops (PHP10,938), fruit trees (PHP166,470). Fishery and livestock sectors suffered PHP4.15 million and PHP13.4 million losses, respectively.

The typhoon directly affected 2,679 hectares of farms. For rice alone, harvest losses are pegged at 3,060 metric tons.

“We are committed to assist farmers. The DA regional field offices have prepositioned seed stocks to cope up with damages wrought by calamities so that our farmers could easily recover their losses at the shortest possible time,” said DA Regional Executive Director Leo Cañeda.

The DA reminded affected farmers to get proper certifications from their respective local agriculture offices in order for them to avail of the free seeds. (PNA)
JMC/Sarwell Q. Meniano