DA distributes assistance to farmers affected by TD Vicky
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 30 -- In response to
the call of the Office of the President and the Office of Senator Bong Go to
assess areas affected by Tropical Depression (TD) Vicky, the Department of
Agriculture (DA) converged with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide
assistance after the onslaught of TD Vicky, affecting several livelihoods in
the region including the agriculture sector.
DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness
Kristine Y. Evangelista together with DA Caraga Regional Executive Director
Abel James I. Monteagudo and DA Caraga Regional Technical Director for
Operations Rebecca R. Atega attended on Monday the distribution in Prosperidad,
Agusan del Sur and Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
The local government unit (LGU) of
Prosperidad received 285 bags of Certified Rice Seeds and 3,000 pouches of
7-in-1 vegetable seeds in support for the rehabilitation of the livelihood of
affected farmer-beneficiaries.
Moreover, the DA grant one million
pesos through the Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program to the LGUs severely
affected by the typhoon.
“This grant will serve as an investment
to create more agricultural businesses, I hope that you’ll make use of this
grant to grow your business fast,” Asec. Evangelista said.
“Agriculture does not end with just
planting, we have to create a business, invest in our agricultural products so
that we can gain profit even more,” she added.
RED Monteagudo also reiterated that the
DA will continue to serve its mandate, especially in times of disaster where
the agriculture sector is prone to severe impacts.
The Inter-agency will continue to roll
out assistance on the following days to the severely affected LGUs, mostly in
Agusan del Sur area. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
In the midst of the pandemic, OWWA Caraga assists 9,309 OFWs back in the region
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 30 – Few days before
the year 2020 closes, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration – Regional
Welfare Office (OWWA RWO) Caraga has recorded a total of 9,309 returning
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) including their dependents that have been
assisted by its ongoing repatriation assistance beginning April 29, 2020.
Upon arrival at any port of entry near
the Caraga region, free meals, food packs, transport assistance, and temporary
shelter were provided to those OFWs who had to wait for their transport service
to be arranged by their local government units concerned for onward travel to
their home provinces, subject to the minimum required public health standards.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered
mass repatriation of OFWs to the Philippines. While many of the repatriated
OFWs lost their jobs, they also included those contracts had ended, distressed
workers who were staying in shelters, and those returning home for a vacation.
OFWs who came home temporarily were also caught up by the various quarantine
requirements, and in addition, they were stranded in the Philippines pending
the availability of flights back to their countries of employment.
To meet the various needs of the arrivals of the returning OFWs, OWWA RWO Caraga has coordinated with the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Office of Civil Defense, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), other members of the Regional Task Force for COVID-19 One Caraga Shield and most importantly the provincial and local government units here in Caraga region. (OWWA Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
