The Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) will start the Information Dissemination campaign for La Nina prevention initiatives.
In the pilot episode of the Usaping Agrikultura radio program aired over government radio station 93.7 FM DzEQ Radyo Pilipinas Baguio and was simulcast over Radyo Pilipinas stations in Bontoc, Mountain Province and Tabuk City, Kalinga, DA-CAR Regional Technical Director for Operations Danilo Daguio explained that the measure comes after the reactivation of DA-CARs DRRM Operations Center tasked with managing disaster related activities of the department.
“Pagasa has reported a 69 percent chance of La Nina will be felt in the region starting July until September this year, which is why DA-CAR reactivated its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Emergency Operations Center that will monitor the present situation of our standing crops. What we will be focusing on this La Nina are the areas that are those in the low-lying production areas that are prone to flooding or those normally located in river dams and creeks, aside from those areas prone to landslides,” Daguio said.
At present, DA-CARs DRRM Operations Center is monitoring the production areas located in Benguet, Mountain Province, and parts of Ifugao, aside from updating every two weeks the standing crops to determine the stage of plant growth in the different production areas in the region. The date gathered will provide an estimate of the value of possible damages once a calamity would be experienced.
“We are currently preparing the information-education campaign materials on what our farmers should know about La Nina which will be disseminated through multi-media platforms. We are also scheduling a visit to identified vulnerable areas to meet the farmers and our partners in LGUs to disseminate what actions our farmers should undertake, aside from coordination with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation for the possible insurance of affected crops during calamities to replace the expenses incurred in their production activities,” Daguio stated.
As part of its yearly preparations for any calamities or disasters, seed reserves are being prepared in times when there is an impending calamity. Rice, corn, and vegetable seeds are readily available particularly during times of calamities that will be distributed to affected farmers for them to replace their plants affected by a calamity.
“Farm inputs like fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, and post-harvest facilities wherein those established by DA in the past are being monitored to make sure that these facilities are operational such as green houses and dryers,” Daguio added.
For 2024, among the projects or interventions of DA-CAR to be distributed to farmers are post-harvest facilities and dryers. The conduct of a “KADIWA NG PANGULO” is also part of the preparations of the department in case there would be a problem in the supply of food in the different areas in the region in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry.
Meanwhile, in its El Nino report, DA-CAR recorded the total damage to crops and livestock at P1.237 billion affecting rice, corn, high value crops, and some mortalities to livestock and poultry.
Ifugao incurred the most damages in corn which is almost 50 percent of the total value of damages in the region, followed by Apayao and Kalinga.
The affected provinces were provided with interventions to lessen the impact of El Nino composed of 198 units of water pumps and 5 solar powered irrigation systems, HDPE or hoses for vegetable growers.
This includes a P10,000 financial assistance to El Nino affected farmers or households, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally distributing the financial aid on July 19 this year, starting in the Province of Apayao. By JTLlanes
