DA to aid typhoon-affected farmers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) vowed to roll out aid for farmers affected by Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced “the agency has prepared post-typhoon assistance, including low-interest recovery loans, insurance indemnification, financial and fuel aid and inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, fingerlings, boats and fishing gear to help food producers recover quickly from the calamity.”

The “Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. has earmarked P251 million to compensate insured farmers for losses caused by Tino and is now assessing damages from Uwan to provide for claims.”

The DA has also activated its Quick Response Fund and Survival and Recovery Loan Program to support affected farmers and fisherfolk.

Tiu Laurel noted that Catanduanes suffered damage to agriculture amounting to nearly P700 million.

“Coconut plantations were almost wiped out,” he noted.

Uwan’s destruction to Catanduanes’ agricultural goods including abaca, coconut and fisheries could reach as high as P1 billion or P2 billion as a result of Tino and Uwan, he added.