GMA wants emergency employment for farmers affected by dry spell

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has ordered the provision of emergency employment for farmers affected by the long dry spell brought about by the El Niño phenomenon to cover some of their lost income.

In a roundtable discussion held in Isabela yesterday, the President noted that the El Niño task force has agreed that emergency employment should be given to farmers and their families in order to make up for the losses they incurred from the drying up of their farmlands.

“The main solution that we have agreed on is that there should be emergency employment for them in desilting rivers and also repairing irrigation systems,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo said that the supply of rice would not be affected by the long dry spell because the National Food Authority would be importing rice to augment domestic supply.

“The problem is really the farmers who are losing their income because they are not able to harvest,” she said.

The President noted that the affected farmers would be given a moratorium on the payment of loans they incurred from government-owned banks or the suspension on the payment of irrigation fees.

Outgoing Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap, who chairs the El Niño task force, said that the payment of penalties incurred by the farmers on their loans would also be suspended.

He said the Land Bank of the Philippines will study the documents submitted by the farmers and if it is determined that they are affected by El Niño, then a reprieve on their interest payments may be granted.

Yap noted that Isabela ranks first among the provinces affected by El Niño and so the President has ordered the immediate downloading of the national infrastructure programs in order to create new jobs.