Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol led the distribution of agricultural goods and marine engines to almost 500 affected farmers and fisherfolk during the stakeholders’ consultation in Boac, Marinduque on January 5, 2017.
“I am amazed by the resilience of the Marinduque people,” Piñol said.
The rehabilitation assistance includes 1,000 bags of certified palay seeds, 50 bags of OPV white corn seeds, 50 bags of ordinary hybrid corn seeds, 40 kilos of assorted vegetable seeds, 30,000 pieces of coffee planting materials, 65,000 pieces of cacao planting materials, 55 heads of upgraded dairy goats (5 heads per municipality and 25 heads for the Provincial Veterinary Office), Php35,326.00 worth of drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry industry (equivalent to 12 bottles of gentamizine,12 bottles of vitamin b complex, 6 bottles of abendaze 1liter each, and 12 boxes of multivitamins), and 50 marine engines and fishing paraphernalia (150 sets of gillnets and 10 units of handline).
P10-M Provincial Lakatan Nursery
The agri chief also announced the establishment of the Provincial Lakatan Nursery amounting to P10 million to propagate the production of banana industry in the province.
“Bibilhin namin ang semilya ng Lakatan dito sa probinsya at palalakihin sa nursery tapos ibabalik at ipapamigay muli namin sa inyo ang mga ito,” Piñol said adding that if the bananas in the province do not suffer any disease then it is better to protect its seedlings for production.
During the consultation Sec. Piñol, together with DA-MiMaRoPa Regional Executive Director Cipriano Santiago, addressed concerns of farmers and fishers including rampant cases of dynamite fishing in the province and insurance for crops and boats damaged during the onslaught of the typhoon.
He also recommended the creation of the National Cooperative for Farmers and Fisherfolk, which will help in the monitoring of cooperatives in the country.
“This will provide the cooperatives control on the movement of their own goods,” he said.
“We want you to know that whatever you are, we will always be there to address for all your needs,” he added.
Typhoon Nina has damaged a total of 1,431 hectares (ha) of rice areas and 33ha of corn areas. (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID) - PIA
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