The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Monday that it has prepositioned around PHP1 billion in aid for farmers and fishers affected by Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) and Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong).
In a phone interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said at least PHP500 million is allocated specifically for those affected by Uwan.
“Minimum noon ay (The minimum for that is) PHP500 million for the pre-positioned items … Si Uwan ang talagang tinamaan ay Central atsaka (Uwan hit hardest Central and) Northern Luzon,” he said.
The aid package includes farm inputs such as rice, corn, and high-value crop seedlings, as well as animal feeds for livestock and poultry, and fingerlings for affected fishers.
A PHP25,000 loanable amount under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan and indemnification programs is also available, payable over three years at zero interest.
De Mesa, meanwhile, said the aforementioned amount still excludes the indemnification fund for insured farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.
To date, the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center is still assessing and validating reports of agricultural damage in the country. (PNA)