The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera reported an initial P11.5 million worth of damage in agricultural infrastructure in 14 municipalities in Abra, which was the province hardest hit by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on July 27.
DA-Cordillera Director Cameron P. Odsey said as of 10 a.m. of July 29, the agriculture assessment team dispatched by the agency in its initial assessment recorded damage on farm-to-market roads in Bangued, Boliney, Bucay, Bucloc, Daguiomon, Danglas, Lagangilang, Lagayan, Licuan-Baay, Luba, Pidigan, San Juan, San Quintin, and Peñarrubia.
Agricultural damage assessment is being done in other areas of Abra and in other provinces.
The DA-Cordillera requested its central office for the possible immediate distribution of the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) to identified farmer-beneficiaries in Abra through the service provider of the Development Bank of the Philippines in coordination with the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist.
Under the RFFA, the beneficiaries will receive P5,000 each. They can use the amount to buy farm inputs or for other immediate needs.
“We have sent a letter to our central office requesting them for the possible release of the said fund since we know that they would be needing this, particularly during this time. This amounts to P148 million, which will be distributed to the 21,000 beneficiaries of Abra,” Odsey said.
To provide families affected by the earthquake, the DA has also dispatched two Kadiwa rolling store trucks in the province containing assorted high land vegetables from various Benguet farmer cooperative associations that were sold based on the pricing system of the Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center in La Trinidad, Benguet.
Odsey said aside from the initial dispatch of the two trucks, an assessment is also being done to determine what other vegetables may be brought to the province, while a similar dispatch of Kadiwa trucks to other provinces may be done if the need arises. – Press release
