PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) MIMAROPA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) work on a rehabilitation and recovery program for the affected farmers after the widespread flooding that damaged crops and livestock in the province of Palawan.
Engineer Maria Teresa Carido of DA MIMAROPA said that the department will assist with the interventions that the Palawan provincial government requests through the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAgO). The request will be forwarded for funding to the department’s central office under the quick response fund 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“Ang mapag-uusapan nila na iri-request nila na mga progama kasama ang LGU at kanilang provincial board para makapag-implement tayo ng rehab at recovery program, ‘yon din ang isa-submit namin na iri-request for funding,” she said.
The Disaster Risk Reduction Management Information System provides DA MIMAROPA with the data from the province. As of February 12, DA received report of 3,200 hectares affected rice areas in the towns of Narra, Aborlan, Sofronio Española, Bataraza, and Brooke’s Point, while 317 hectares was recorded in Puerto Princesa.
Under corn commodities, the initial recorded data reached 155 hectares and 200 hectares for high-value crops. Farmers engaged in livestock suffered an initial loss of 2,000 animals amounting to P4.5 million.
As per the department’s progress report, the initial amount of losses for Palawan recorded P208.3 million under the banner programs of DA. Narra leads the town with the highest amount of losses — P82 million for rice.
Carido stated that the ongoing submissions from various municipalities are likely to increase the figure. The department’s protocol mandates the consolidation of data for the final damage and losses report within 14 days.
“Normally kapag baha ay medyo hindi agad naga-gather lahat ng data dahil kapag hindi pa nag-subside ang baha ay hindi pa ma-a-assess ang ibang areas kung totally damaged o partially damaged,” she said.
The rehabilitation and recovery program will depend on damaged areas and the total number of losses submitted by the province. The fund that can support affected areas will depend on the availability of funds, as DA has to allocate its P1 billion quick response funds to the needs of different regions across the country every year.
Carido explained that funds will not be downloaded immediately to Palawan because the process needs to secure approval and validation of submitted reports and requests.
One of the solutions seen by the department is to disburse its 100 sacks of buffer seeds to those who still want to replant after flooding. DA will also procure planting materials such as hybrid palay seeds, fertilizer, and vegetable seeds under quick response funds previously downloaded to the regional office amounting to P156 million.
“Paghahatian yan ng limang probinsya but definitely, Palawan together with other huge provinces will get the bigger chunks from that fund lalo ngayon ang Palawan ay malaki ang ares na may damage and losses,” she said.
Under its regular program, farmers may also avail themselves of the Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) program supported by the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF). This program utilizes the excess tariff revenue from the importation of rice.
The qualified farmers registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) will receive assistance amounting to P7,000. The DA has downloaded the assistance to 23,855 farmers in Palawan, of whom about 60 percent have already cashed out the P7,000.
Aside from being registered under RSBSA, farmers should be active tillers and have two hectares and below rice area to be eligible for the program.
“Very timely naman dahil nakapag-download tayo sa panahon na kailangang-kailangan ng farmers natin ngayon. Iyon ang pinaka-immediate natin na maitutulong ngayon and hopefully gamitin ng farmers natin sa immediate recovery from the recent funding,” Carido added.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also recorded affected fisherfolk in the municipalities of Bataraza and Narra, particularly in aquaculture.
BFAR MIMAROPA Regional Director Roberto Abrera said the total amount of damage undergoes continuous consolidation, wherein interventions will also be funded by DA’s quick response fund.
The bureau still gathers data from Sofronio Española, Quezon, and Rizal towns as fishponds in these areas also produce products for commercial consumption. Fortunately, the seaweed industry escaped damage, with major producing areas primarily located in island towns in the northern portion of Palawan.
“Pwede natin sabihin na minimal (damage) kung meron man ang epekto nito sa ating aquaculture sector at sinasabi ko nga, usually nag-overflow ang mga pond–Pinagpapasalamat natin na kahit papaano ay na-spare ang ating seaweed farmers,” Abrera said.
Insured Palawan fisherfolk may also avail themselves of the programs of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), particularly those that have sustained damages on fishing boats. The Agriculture Credit Policy Council may also assist affected locals in availing loans, while BFAR can support recovery programs, he said. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
