THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has secured PHP7 million worth of aid for farmers and fisherfolk in Batangas who were hit by the recent unrest of the Taal Volcano.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa stated in a recorded Talk to the People aired Wednesday that they had allotted relief for 1,561 farmers and fishermen, some of whom have already been evacuated in barangays Banyaga and Bilibinwang in Agoncillo town.
“Ang ating pong (Our) regional offices at (and the) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), naghanda ng PHP7 million na handa po nating ipamigay (have prepared PHP7 million worth of relief goods, ready to be distributed),” he said.
The aid includes 1,401 bags of inbred seeds, 500 kilograms of glutinous corn, 250 kgs of variety of vegetable seeds, and 1.5 million tilapia and fingerlings.
However, in the event of a disruptive eruption, the DA has stated that it can provide up to PHP200 million in additional relief from the department’s quick response fund.
Apart from this, de Mesa also mentioned other programs with budgets disbursed from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“Inilabas na po ng DBM ‘yung ating (The DBM has released our) PHP500-million fuel discount program at ‘yun pong ating (and our) Rice Farmers Financial Assistance ngayong taon na nagkakahalaga po ng (this year amounting to) PHP8.9 billion. Ito po ay malaking tulong kung sakaling magpapatuloy ang problema ngTaal Volcano (This is a huge aid in case the volcanic unrest persists),” he added.
