DA-Caraga updates media partners on the effects of ST Odette on agriculture and fisheries
BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) - Caraga recently held a press conference to update the local media partners related to the effects of Super Typhoon Odette on agriculture and fisheries and the corresponding One DA Rehabilitation Plan.
According to the data presented by Girlie Antipaso, the alternate focal person for the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management, the estimated damage on the agri-fishery sector in the region as of January 27, 2022, is around PhP2.2 billion, of which coconut posted the highest loss at PhP745 million, followed by high-value crops at PhP602 million; and damages of agricultural infrastructure, rice, corn, livestock and poultry, fisheries, and farm machinery and equipment, respectively.
Moreover, the province that was highly affected by the onslaught of the typhoon is Surigao del Norte, with a total affected area of 9,143 hectares equating to PhP1.5 billion of agricultural damages, followed by Agusan del Norte, with 5,041 hectares amounting PhP136 million; Agusan del Sur with 4,069 hectares amounting to PhP136 million; Dinagat Islands with 2,511 hectares amounting to PhP364 million; and Surigao del Sur with a total affected area of 639 hectares amounting to PhP39 million.
As an immediate response, numerous interventions were placed, which included the provision of available resources particularly the 1,020 bags of rice seeds, 850 bags of corn seeds, 8,000 pouches of vegetable seeds, and other farm inputs like rodenticides, dewormer, and vitamins which sums up to a total amount of PhP7,355,000.
In addition, the DA Mindanao Clusters also assisted the affected areas by providing 1,900 bags of rice seeds, 891 bags of milled rice, 7 tons of banana, 5.1 tons of assorted vegetables, food packs, canned goods, water, and cash assistance with a total amount of PhP4.9 million.
DA-Quick Response Fund also released support for the banner programs with a total amount of PhP141 million. This pertains to the provision of seeds/planting materials and fertilizer/soil ameliorants for the Rice, Corn, and High-Value Crops Development Program, and for the provision of free-range chicken, feeds, supplements, drugs and biologics for the Livestock program.
Moreover, a total amount of PhP150 million has been allocated for the SURE-AID Calamity Fund to be disbursed to the 6,000 farmers in the different provinces of Caraga region.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also presented their rehabilitation plan for the 11,238 affected fisher folks in the region in which the budget has a total amount of PhP397 million for the interventions such as the provision of fingerlings, seaweed farm implements, motorized and non-motorized FRP boats, fishing gears, lobster cages, floating assets, and survival equipment.
On the other hand, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) provided interventions amounting to PhP24.7 million for the 5,542 affected farmers in the region which includes the distribution of incentives, seed nuts/coconut seedlings, vegetable packets and fertilizer, and banana seedlings.
Regional Executive Director of DA - Caraga Ricardo M. OΓ±ate, Jr. together with Regional Technical Director for Research, Regulations and ILD Nicandro Navia, Jr., Regional Manager of PCA - Caraga Joel B. Oclarit, and Senior Agriculturist Edgardo P. Balambao of BFAR - Caraga served as the panelists of the presscon wherein they addressed the concerns and queries of the media practitioners during the open forum.
RED OΓ±ate also thanked the OneDA family for the support that was rendered to the affected individuals. “I am so thankful to the OneDA family including our DA - Mindanao clusters that supported us through extending their help for immediate giving of food packs as well as agri-production inputs such as seeds, and even cash assistance,” he added. (Jezreel Sudario, DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
