DOLE 6 ready to assist farmers affected by El Niño
Due to the devastating effects of the dry spell brought about by the El Niño Phenomenon, the Department of Labor and Employment 6 has prepared emergency plan to mitigate the effects of prolonged dry spell to farmers whose crop were totally damaged.
DOLE 6 dispatched on Wednesday, February 24, about twenty personnel to 7 municipalities in Iloilo Province earlier validated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) 6 as heavily affected by the drought to meet and consult with stakeholders, and profile and assess the farmers’ needs for possible intervention.
These municipalities – Passi City, Sta. Barbara, Dingle, Pavia, Mina, Igbaras and Ajuy, were identified as heavily affected in terms of land area and the number of farmers.
Iloilo Province has the most number of affected municipalities (28) and farmers (30,563) among the provinces in the Region.
DOLE 6 Director Aida M. Estabillo sent out personnel coming from the Regional and Iloilo Provincial Offices with instruction to finish their assignments, particularly the profiling of affected farmers, in 3 days.
Estabillo said her Office has to respond to the situation with extreme urgency and provide immediate relief to affected farmers.
“Kailangan nating kumilos ng mabilis para masagot kaagad ang pangngangailangan ng ating mga magsasakang naapektuhan ng mahabang tagtuyo,” she said.
“Hindi natin alam kung hanggang kailan magtatapos ang mahabang tagtuyo, ang mahalaga ay mabigyan kaagad ng tulong ang mga nangangailangang magsasaka,” she added.
DOLE Region 6 planned to provide emergency employment and livelihood assistance to heavily affected farmers from these municipalities.
