LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – In a bid to reinforce the recovery of highland vegetables, rice and livestock farmers impacted by Typhoon Egay, the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) handed over interventions valued at Php20 million to the provincial government on December 20, 2023.
The assistance included various high-value crop vegetable seeds, 368 rolls of HDPE pipes, 742 rolls of polyethylene plastic sheets, 308 sachets of soil ameliorants, and 1,770 ready-to-lay chicken. The recipients of these support are 8,399 individual farmers who are affected by typhoon Egay as per the masterlists submitted by different municipal governments.
This substantial initiative was made possible through funds allocated from the DA-CAR’s quick response fund, underscoring the government’s commitment to helping those affected during challenging times.
According to Lito Mocati, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer of Benguet, the rehabilitation program for Typhoon Egay was formulated based on post-damage assessments.
The Cordillera region documented damage to the agri-fisheries sector, covering approximately 24,505.62 hectares of farmland resulting in an estimated loss of PhP1.3 billion in agriculture. The corn commodity incurred the most significant damage, followed by high-value crops, rice, agri-infrastructure, and livestock, respectively.
In accordance with the damages incurred in Benguet, the high-value crops received the highest fund allocation, totaling to PhP18 million, followed by rice with PhP1.1 million, and livestock with 937,000 pesos.
Meanwhile, Mario Baucas, Executive Assistant to Benguet Governor Melchor D. Diclas, expressed gratitude to the agency for their enduring partnership in the face of adversity, pledging continued support to the agency for the farmers of Benguet.
Joan D. Bacbac, HVCDP Coordinator, expressed hope that the beneficiaries would make optimal use of the assistance provided. She also underscored the need for strengthened collaboration between the provincial government and DA-CAR in monitoring the vegetable industry. Bacbac highlighted the issue of surplus vegetables and proposed redirecting these to agencies in need, such as jails, schools, DSWD, and churches.
Bacbac sought the province’s assistance in avoiding such issues in the future, extending her gratitude to the Province of Benguet for its continuous support to the agency.
Benguet Provincial Agriculturist Delinia Juan assured that the interventions would be distributed to affected farmers by the end of this month, emphasizing that beneficiaries would be identified based on consolidated reports submitted by various municipalities affected by Typhoon Egay.
Also present during the ceremonial turnover were Crisante Rosario, DA-CAR DRRM Focal Person, Michael Bugtong, Assistant DRRM Focal Person, Cirilo Batan, Assistant APCO-Benguet, and Freda Pagaduan, Assistant HVCDP Coordinator. By Leny D. Mendoza
