KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) reiterated its commitment to provide assistance to farmers, particularly those affected by calamities in the Soccsksargen.
DA’s records showed that it has assisted over 100,000 farmers in the region affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon by distributing corn and rice seeds and providing financial aid under its Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program.
But first, farmers and fisherfolk are required to register with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), said Alkhomine Apad, focal person for the DA’s disaster risk reduction and management unit, during the recent episode of the PIA Talakayang Dose radio program, which is aired every Friday on its regional and provincial Facebook pages.
“Ito po ‘yong basic requirement ng DA at ng mga attached agencies ng Department of Agriculture on how to avail agri-fishery-related government services or programs and projects ng DA,” he explained.
(This is a fundamental requirement of the Department of Agriculture and its affiliated agencies regarding the use of agri-fishery-related government services, programs, and projects.)
Apad added that farmers and fishermen may also contact their respective city or municipal agriculture offices if they have questions about the RSBSA registration or the department’s assistance programs.
He also highlighted the importance of taking advantage of the crop insurance program of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
“Huwag po natin kalimutan magpa-insure. Kung may crop damages, magreport sa barangay o lumapit sa mga municipal technicians sa inyong lugar,” he said.
(Let’s not forget to get insurance. If there is crop damage, report it to the barangay, or approach the municipal technicians in your area.)
Apad also disclosed that recently, 2,770 drought-affected farmers in the region benefited from crop insurance worth P9,900,203.
Rosemarie Abedain, a resident of Barangay Banayal in Tulunan, Cotabato, and one of the beneficiaries of the recent corn seed and fertilizer distribution, described the assistance as “a big help” for farmers like her who are recovering from El Niño.
“Dako gid ang matabang sa amo n inga assistance nga binhi kag abono para mabuhinan among gastusan sa pag-uma. Salamat kaayo Pangulong Marcos, Gov. Lala, sa mga taga-DA, kay Cong. Sam, ug sa uban pa nga nitabang aron mahatagan kami ani nga farm inputs,” she said.
(The assistance of seeds and fertilizers will significantly reduce our farming expenses. Thank you very much, President Marcos, Gov. Lala, the DA people, Cong. Sam, and others who helped to provide us with these farm inputs.)
Currently, the DA is preparing for the onset of La Niña, following PAGASA’s forecast that there is a higher possibility of its occurrence in June.
Apad said their office continues to monitor forecasts from PAGASA and disseminate them to agriculture offices in the cities and municipalities in the region.
“Mayroon po kaming ongoing procurement ng mga buffer seeds, buffer stocks like rice seeds and corn seeds. So, ito po ‘yong ipe-preposition po namin para po kung mayroon pong affected ng La Niña, ito ang aming idi-distribute after po ng assessment ng DA,” he emphasized.
(We are currently in the process of procuring buffer seeds and buffer stocks, which include rice and corn seeds. Therefore, we will preposition these items so that we can distribute them to any affected individuals after conducting an assessment.) (SJDM – PIA Region 12)
