The Department of Agriculture (DA) eyed for the release of additional P1.3 billion (B) budget from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC).
“These additional funding will be used to mitigate the effects of El Niño,” DA Undersecretary for Operations and Agribusiness Emerson U. Palad said.
During a recent press briefing, Palad, mentioned that the supplemental budget will not only utilized to support the drought-affected farmers in their livelihood but will also serve as preparation for the onset of La Niña, which often follows El Niño episodes.
“I do hope and I am sure that they are very aware of how urgent the needs for El Niño are,” Palad said.
DA has appealed to Malacañang a total of P769 million for the mitigation of drought season and preparation for La Niña.
Prior to that, DA requested the DBM to replenish the P500 million Quick Response Fund (QRF) intended to finance the agency’s disaster response efforts. Palad stressed that the department has fully utilized its QRF worth P370.08 million, which has been allocated to the affected regions.
Latest reports show that the damages brought by El Niño, including massive pest infestation have already reached P8.6B.
To address the problems, DA deployed its Regional Field Offices (RFOs) to provide interventions, and initiate strategies, and activities to the affected farmers as early as 2014.
The government strongly recommends maximizing production in non-threatened areas; saving vulnerable areas through appropriate irrigation intervention or crop shifting using short gestation crops.
“We will also be rehabilitating vulnerable areas that cannot be saved,” Palad said.
DA has also signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of National Defense (DND) to guarantee a coordinated cloud seeding operations using the Philippine Armed Forces aircrafts. At present, DA has already conducted more than 250 sorties which is translated to 352 flying hours and 68% success rate. # Source - (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)/www.da.gov.ph
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