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Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Drought-hit farms get P664 million in aid
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered on Tuesday the release of at least P664 million, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), to support farmlands in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the Bicol Region that are heavily affected by the dry spell.
Arroyo, during the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) en banc meeting in Malacañang, also allocated P3 billion, through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), for the rehabilitation of existing irrigation facilities in the affected areas.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said the funds are already available with the NIA and DA but the National Government is prepared to augment the funds if the need arises. He said they could get the additional funds through several sources like the calamity fund.
Andaya said the initial contingency measures, including funds, cover matters until September.
He said they have prepared the contingency measures as they expect the dry spell to last until August.
Andaya said part of the DA fund would be spent on cloud seeding; construction of shallow tube wells; livestock; and the purchase and distribution of hybrid corn seeds, assorted vegetable seeds and rice certified seeds.
Of the P664 million, P264 million would be spent in Regions I to III, P250 million in Regions 4-A and 5, and P150 million for livestock that would be distributed in the affected areas.
Of the P264 million, P28 million will go to cloud-seeding operations; P63 million for hybrid corns including microbial fertilizer that would be distributed in farm areas where they are unable to plant rice; P13 million for assorted vegetable seeds; and P10 million for the construction of some 140 shallow tube wells mostly in Regions I and II.
At least P150 million would also be spent on rice certified seeds that would be planted in areas where irrigation had been restored and in parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
At least 65,000 hectares in Visayas and Mindanao had been initially identified for the planting of rice seeds to offset the drop or complete loss of rice production particularly in Regions 1, 2 and 3.
Andaya said the agriculture department estimates about 92,000 metric tons of rice production to be affected by the dry spell.
He said of the P250 million allocation for Regions 4-A and 5, however, about P12 million of which would go to cloud-seeding operations while the rest would be spent on the procurement and distribution of hybrid corns and microbial fertilizers, assorted vegetable seeds, certified rice seeds and construction of shallow tube wells.
National Security Adviser and acting National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) acting chairman Norberto Gonzales reassured the public that the government is trying to minimize the effect of the dry spell as much as they can.
The defense secretary chairs NDCC in a concurrent capacity.
Gonzales said they are hoping that at least one to two typhoons would come to augment the current water level, particularly in the different dams, to minimize the problem of supply for potable water and irrigation.
He asked for more understanding if the public would "experience some sort of discomfort like water rationing," asking them to cooperate and start conserving water.
NDCC spokesman Anthony Golez said this is not the first time that the Philippines underwent a dry spell or even drought.
Golez, in a radio interview, said the Philippines in 1982, 1992 and 1997 have had dry spells from which important "lessons" have been learned and would be used to address the current situation.
He said of the previous incidents, the worst was in the latter part of 1997 to early parts of 1998.
Golez said the different agencies, particularly the agriculture, environment and health departments, are working with the NDCC to ensure that mitigating measures are in place and already activated.
The NDCC on Tuesday said five more aircraft have been hired to take part in ongoing cloud seeding operations to cause rains needed by the country amid an extended dry season.
This brings to eight the total number of planes being utilized by the government to prevent a looming drought from wrecking havoc on the country, said NDCC executive officer Glenn Rabonza.
The eight aircraft are tasked to induce rains in Regions 1, 2 and 3, particularly targeting areas where crops are grown and watersheds are located to ensure that water supply for the people would go uninterrupted. (JMR/VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (August 1, 2007 issue)
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