The Department of Agriculture (DA) will draw up a work plan to determine how El Niño could affect farmers and fisherfolk and what government assistance can be extended to them.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the preparation of the plan after a meeting in Malacañang on the government’s response to the dry spell.
Tiu Laurel said farmers who can still plant could receive fuel, additional fertilizer, transport and seed subsidies.
“Pero doon sa mga lugar naman na makakatanim, mayroon tayong fuel subsidy na ibibigay to help them, [such as] additional fertilizer subsidy, transport subsidy, at, of course, iyong binhi na kailangan nila among others,” he said.
For areas where farming is no longer possible, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also has programs that could provide assistance, Tiu Laurel said.
“Mayroon ding mga programa ang DSWD para doon sa mga lugar na hindi talaga makatanim,” he said.
Tiu Laurel urged farmers in irrigated areas to continue with their planting plans while assuring them of government support.
The secretary also said the government would assist fisherfolk with fuel and solar equipment needed for their operations.
“Sa mga mangingisda, nandiyan din kami para suportahan kayo sa fuel, pati sa mga solar na inyong kailangan sa transport in this coming months. So, ipagpatuloy lang natin at nandiyan kami, nasa likod ninyo,” he said.
Tiu Laurel said Marcos also wants regular meetings among concerned agencies to work out the details of the interventions for the agriculture sector.IMT
