Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18) — The Department of Agriculture says assistance worth about ₱1.9 billion has been given to farmers and fisherfolk affected by calamities and African Swine Fever.
DA said on Thursday the aid came from its quick response fund, and was distributed to farmers through the agency’s regional field offices to help affected people in the industry recover from their losses caused by calamities.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said part of the fund was allotted to compensate ASF-affected hog raisers from 2019 to this year, as well as farmers and fisherfolk affected by typhoons that hit the country late last year to early-2020 and the eruption of Taal Volcano.
The DA’s Field Operation Service has reported that ₱733 million was given to hog raisers, ₱567 million to farmers and fishers affected by typhoons, and ₱463-million worth of inputs and technical assistance for those affected by the Taal eruption.
Also, ₱150 million was allotted to contain the Fall Army Worm infestation in corn farms, and ₱28.4 million assistance for farmers in Cagayan Valley affected by drought.
