Agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Thursday assured communities in the Davao region of “fast support” after visiting areas that were damaged by floods spawned by rains attributed to the tail-end of a cold front that continues to affect the eastern section of Mindanao.
“I am here to comfort you and the farmers. Tingnan natin ang programa sa agrikultura in a long term context. Tutulong kami. We will do it fast,” Sec. Pinol said.
Piñol also met with Governors Jayvee Tyron Uy of Compostela Valley, Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental and Antony del Rosario of Davao del Norte to assess the over-all damage incurred by floods and landslides to agriculture in the region.
The meeting was held on Thursday afternoon at the provincial capitol of Compostela Valley in Nabunturan town.
Initial assessment released by provinces indicated that floods caused heavy damages to agricultural products that include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and fisheries.
In Davao Oriental, the provincial agriculture reported on Tuesday that floods destroyed more than PHP1.7 million worth of crops and other agricultural products in the area.
At least 423 hectares of farmlands and 1,864 farmers were affected by severe flooding in 27 barangays in the province.
Crops damaged include corn, rice and high-value crops.
Meanwhile, in Compostela Valley, the agriculture office on Thursday said around PHP194,421,072.18 million worth of damages were incurred in the agriculture sector in the province.
Damage to rice, high value commercial crops, corn, and fishery amounted to PHP68,269,117.18 while damage to livestock and poultry reached to PHP8,906,355.00.
A total of 3,552 farmers were directly affected by floods in Compostela Valley while 4,518.86 hectares of farms were also destroyed.
In Davao del Norte, damage to agriculture was placed at PHP11.2 million for crops, PHP1.2 million for livestock and PHP.85 million for fisheries.
Immediate support and assistance to the affected farmers in Dava region are among the topics discussed during Piñol’s visit.
The meeting was also joined by top officials of the Department of Agriculture in Davao region (DA 11) led by OIC-regional director Ricardo Oñate.
Joedel Leliza, the risk reduction officer of the Department of Agriculture in Davao region (DA 11) presented to Piñol the agency’s assessment on the impact of the floods to the agriculture sector in the area.
Sec. Pinol listened to the reports of PDRRMCs especially on the damage to agriculture during the meeting.
He also assured everyone of the support of his department under the new administration of Pres. Rodrigo Duterete.
“I am here to comfort you and the farmers. Tingnan natin ang programa sa agrikultura in a long term context. Tutulong kami. We will do it fast,” Sec. Pinol said.
