The Agriculture department has distributed P8.5 billion worth of crop inputs and other aid to farmers and fisherfolk affected by typhoons that hit the Philippines in October and November
.
Cagayan Valley got the biggest help at P2.34 billion, followed by the Bicol region at P1.07 billion, the agency said in a statement on Friday.
The Mimaropa region consisting of the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan got P914 million, while Calabarzon — Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon got P736 million.
The Cordillera Administrative Region received P382 million in aid, while the Ilocos region got P313.8 million. Central Luzon received P281.5 million.
Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel T. Cayanan said the farmers also received rice, corn and vegetable seeds, cassava seed pieces, fertilizers, farm machinery and equipment and ready-to-lay chicken.
Farmers got P4.06 billion worth of rice, corn, and high-value crop inputs, cash aid worth P1.33 billion and P1 billion in insurance payments from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., the Agriculture department said.
Farmers and fisherfolk likewise received P800 million in emergency and livelihood loans, P670 million from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, as well as P641.82 million in quick-response funds.
Crop damage from seven typhoons have reached P12.8 billion, it said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
