Manila: The government has intensified monitoring and intervention measures to ensure an immediate response to the possible impact of the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake in parts of Mindanao and the oil spill in Ilocos Norte on the agriculture sector. In an interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said no major agricultural damage has been reported so far in quake-affected areas in Sarangani and General Santos City.
According to Philippines News Agency, De Mesa assured that government interventions are prepositioned in its regional offices and can be immediately released when needed. He mentioned that the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program allows farmers and fishers to loan up to PHP25,000 from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), payable in three years at zero interest.
The DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center has stated that the DA regional field offices have considerable resources ready for deployment. This includes 29,827 bags of palay seeds, 20,331 bags of corn seeds, 16,500 packs of vegetable seeds, 307,153 kilograms of bio-control measures, and 37,500 kilograms of fertilizers.
For the fishery sector, there are about PHP23.68 million worth of fingerlings available, including tilapia, carp, and milkfish, as well as adequate fishing gear. Livestock support includes PHP810,000 worth of animals and inputs like chickens, native swine, cattle, and forage seeds.
Eligible farmers and fishers who suffer losses may also receive compensation through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). The National Food Authority has allocated 1,200 bags of rice for disaster response, with 500 bags for General Santos City and the remainder for Sarangani.
De Mesa also noted ongoing assessments in Ilocos Norte due to the oil spill along the shoreline of Barangay La Virgen Milagrosa in Badoc. Initial damage from the spill is minimal, but the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is working closely with the Philippine Coast Guard to address the situation.
