March 29, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said the Department of Agriculture is ready to assist the 80,295 farmers and fisherfolk who were affected by Typhoon Paeng.

The agricultural damage and losses is estimated at P2.86 billion as of Nov. 3 nationwide.

To immediately respond in affected areas, the President has also declared a state of calamity in Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for six months.

With the declaration of state of calamity, the government can control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities in the four regions. National and local governments can also use their funds for rescue, recovery, and rehabilitation measures.

DA is closely coordinating with concerned national government agencies, local government units, and other concerned offices to assess the impact of the tropical cyclones and make available the needed resources for interventions and assistance.

The DA will provide agricultural inputs such as rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds, while drugs and other biologics will be provided to the livestock and poultry industry stakeholders.

To help fishers recover from their losses, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will disperse fingerlings.

The DA will also extend loans to affected farmers in the amount of P25,000, payable in three years at zero interest under its Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council. The Quick Response Fund will also be made available.

DA regional field offices reported Typhoon Paeng affected 86,574 of farm lands in the Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Mindanao, and Soccsksargen regions.  – Press release