The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has reported that El Nino is weakening. According to PAGASA, the condition may return to neutral levels by mid-2016 (May-June-July 2016 season).
Notwithstanding this, the DA is intensifying its efforts to protect our farms and farmers. From January to April this year, DA has already released PHP310 Million to counter the ill effects of El Nino. DA intervention came in the form of hybrid and certified seeds, fertilizers, soil ameliorants, shallow tube wells, pump equipment, biologics, cloud seeding operations, crop insurance and others. Likewise, DA has allocated funds for small water impounding projects and diversion dams to complement the efforts of the National Irrigation Administration under the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Food Security.
In addition, DA has given Quick Response Funds to the various regional field offices in the total amount of PHP207.57Million to rehabilitate farms from the onslaught of El Nino. This amount include PHP60 Million for Region 2, PHP9.16M for Region 9, PHP21.86M for Region 7, PHP14 M for Region 3, PHP102.4 for Region 12. Another PHP31.7 is allotted to the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao and set to be released upon the execution of a memorandum of agreement between DA and ARMM.
On top of the foregoing, DA has already downloaded the amount of PHP848M to its regional field offices for programmed interventions against El Nino.
Finally, DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has instructed all DA offices to heighten monitoring and validation activities to ensure speedy, timely and efficient delivery of basic agricultural services to its constituents. # Source - (DA-OSEC)/www.da.gov.ph
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