OCD: Nearly P11B worth of assistance given to El Niño-hit farmers

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The government has provided P10.96 billion in interventions and assistance to farmers affected by the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Wednesday.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said the aid is part of the government's efforts to protect food security amid drought conditions.

“Ito po ay umaabot na sa P10.96 billion po 'yung mga intervention o assistance na ibinibigay natin sa mga kababayan nating mga magsasaka. Ito naman ay through the crop insurance, mga production assistance, ganun din sa patubig nila,” he said.

(The total interventions or assistance we are providing to our farmers reached P10.96 billion. Whether it is through crop insurance, production assistance, or even their irrigation.)

Castillo said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is leading the government's food security efforts under the National Action Plan on El Niño.

The latest report showed that 106 cities and municipalities have declared a state of calamity due to the effects of El Niño.

The affected areas include parts of Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.

Among the provinces with state of calamity declarations are Isabela, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Agusan del Sur.

DA has reported about P6.87 billion in agricultural losses and damage, with around 249,000 hectares of crops affected.

Castillo said the government is helping farmers determine which crops are suitable under the prevailing conditions to help ensure the continuous supply of food.

Cloud-seeding operations are being implemented in affected areas.

The OCD also emphasized the need for water conservation amid the El Niño impact. —AOL, GMA News