DA readies assistance for El Niño-affected sectors
The government continues to monitor and assess the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on crops, fisheries and other vulnerable sectors even as it readies assistance and other interventions to help those affected by the prolonged dry spell in Western Visayas.
During the latest assessment conference conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Unit 6 and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) recently here, DA Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales said that their agency has P2.8 million for cloud-seeding in case the intervention is needed.
Nacionales said they have noted the presence of so-called cumulus clouds in the atmosphere that are suitable for cloud seeding or rainmaking.
However, he said they have taken due consideration of the position of Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAOs) who asked the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) to defer any cloud-seeding until April or until such time when mangoes shall have surpassed their flowering stage.
The BSWM is the lead agency in the implementation of cloud-seeding operations.
He also revealed that materials for 100 shallow tube wells (STWs) are also due to arrive in the region by April for distribution to target farmer-beneficiaries through Irrigators Service Associations under the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
The DA, which chairs the El Nino Task Force reactivated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to spearhead efforts to address the current situation, has also started distributing vegetable seeds to farmers to enable them to plant alternative crops.
It was also learned during the meeting presided by Nacionales and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Rosario Cabrera that the National Food Authority (NFA) here has received a shipment of 520,000 bags of rice for the province of Iloilo to prop up its supply of the staple cereal.
As of last week, the province had a rice inventory that is enough to last for 74 days. The overall inventory for the region is good for 66 days.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that it has P2.690 million and P5.380 million for emergency employment and livelihood assistance, respectively, for affected farm workers and their families in the region.
They have identified at least six areas in Iloilo where farms have been worst hit by the dry spell and need priority attention from their agency.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on the other hand, said they are ready to provide the amount of P187.00 a day Cash for Work assistance and the same amount for Food for Work.
They also have financial and livelihood assistance and will be helping qualified groups to put up a Tindahan Natin outlet in coordination with the NFA.
Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) regional training center chief Allan Alimodian said they could conduct two livelihood trainings for affected farmers in coordination with DOLE.
Nacionales acknowledged the interventions committed by the agencies that are also members of the regional El Niño task force and their initiatives to pool their resources to help mitigate the effects of El Nino on farmers and other affected sectors. (PIA 6)
