Province incurs over P4 billion damages in agri-fishery

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Province has incurred a P4.1 billion damaged in its agri-fishery due to Typhoon Odette as it allocated P31.2 million for its Agri-Fishery Insurance Program this year.

Roldan Saragena, provincial agriculturist, said the assessments of the damages in the agri-fishery were submitted by the municipal and city agriculturist in the province.

Saragena said that 36 local government units total damage for its agri-fishery is valued at P4,179,859,344.00.

A day after the typhoon, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia immediately conducted an actual field inspection in addressing the immediate needs of the affected Cebuanos.

These efforts of the provincial government led by the governor include road clearing, rebuilding their homes, on top of the continuous relief operations (distribution of rice, canned goods, noodles, drinking water, provision of gen sets and etc.) to affected LGUs.

Last week, some farmers and their families affected by Typhoon Odette hit the streets of Barangay DAS in Toledo City claiming they still have not received aid from the provincial government.

The farmers belong to the Mag-uumang Nagkahiusa Alang sa Kalambuan (MAANAKA) from Barangay Magdugo and the Bunga United Farmers Association (BUFA) from Barangay Bunga in Toledo City.

Saragena said that as early as January 5, 2022, the provincial government has allocated to Toledo City 353 packs of assorted vegetables seeds which comprise hybrid coconut seedlings, jackfruits, among others, 20 pieces lakatan tissue cultured plantlets, 277 guyabano seedlings; 30 bags of GM hybrid yellow corn seeds and another 20 bags of Open Pollinated Variety Corn Seeds white.

All these are with their city agriculturist and ready for distribution among affected farmers.

“Ilaha sad untang tabangan ilang kaugalingon pinaagi sa pag-coordinate sa ilang barangay officials or moadto sila sa ilang agriculture office,” said Saragena.

He said that as of January 5, 2022, initially there were 80 farmers from Toledo City received a total insurance indemnity of P567,336.70.

Also, on January 24, there will be a “Barangayan” activity in Toledo City where the City Agriculture Office together with the Cebu Provincial Agriculture staff will visit barangays bringing all the services and programs of the office where farmers and fisherfolks can transact, inquire or avail directly outright.

He said that relief goods distribution from the provincial government for Toledo City includes 2,200 bags of rice, 1,244 cans of sardines and 470 cans of beef loaf.

Saragena added that in the 2021 Agri-Fishery Insurance Program, the Cebu provincial government paid an insurance premium of P29.9 million and P3,163,605 were paid for Toledo City’s 2,449 farmers and fisherfolks.

“The Cebu provincial government since 2011 during the first term of Governor Garcia is the one paying for the insurance premium and unfortunately naay ubang mga farmers (which I supposed those farmers who complained) wala ni sila niapil sa insurance kay dili lang gyud sila ganahan moapil,” said Saragena.

With Typhoon Odette leaving much damaged to the agriculture and fishery sector in the province, in Toledo City alone there were 1,045 farmers and 172 fishermen affected.

“Pero mao lagi dili tanang farmers ug fishermen sa Toledo City insured sa Philippine Crops Insurance Corporation. Mao na among awhag nga pagpa insured gyud sila kay ingkaso naay mga kalamidad sama sa bagyo, mahatagan gyud sila og indemnity,” said Saragena adding this appeal is also intended for the other uninsured farmers and fisherfolks in the province.

Of the P31.2 million Agri-Fishery Insurance Program budget in 2022, P18 million is for the poultry and livestock and P13.2 million for crops and fisheries.

Aside from paying the insurance premium, the Cebu provincial government and the PCIC has signed a memorandum of agreement in March of 2021 which is intended for insurable farmers and fishermen insuring their crops, fishery, poultry and livestock including Accident Dismemberment Security Scheme (ADSS).

The insurance premium for this, he said, is still shouldered by the provincial government.

Under the MOA, the provincial government made an agreement with three banks for the P20 billion soft loan among farmers and fishermen with an annual interest of two percent per year.

As of November 3, 2021, 324 farmers availed the program with a loan released to 142 farmers with a total of P9,665,205.00. These are eggplant production, ampalaya production, hog raising and others.

On January 14, 2022, the said loan was expanded to the tourism industry for those hotel and resort owners who were also devastated by Typhoon Odette and initial release of the loan is expected on February 14, 2022.

Furthermore, the Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu has turned over to the provincial government the 42 container vans with estimated 20,000 coco seednuts per container with a total of 840,000 coco seednuts more or less.

Saragena said that these coco seednuts will be sown at the provincial facility in Tinaan, Naga City and soon coco seedlings will be distributed to component LGUs specifically those badly hit by Typhoon Odette including Toledo City.

Aside from this, the provincial government’s SUGBUsog Program will still continue which is now on its third round.

The Province will soon distribute assorted vegetable seeds especially to LGUs badly hit by Typhoon Odette to their respective city or municipal agriculture offices based on their submitted masterlist of households and purok that will participate in the program.

As for the Capitol’s Dasig Sugbo Program, distribution of P8,000.00 worth of house construction materials for those totally damaged houses per house is still on going. — GMR (FREEMAN)