THE City Government of Zamboanga is extending additional calamity assistance to the farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the calamity assistance distributed to the farmers and fisherfolk include 300 bags of rice seeds of 40 kilograms (kg) each, 300 bags of corn seeds of 20 kg each, 174 kilos and 192 cans of assorted vegetable seeds, 2,000 bags of organic fertilizer of 50 kg each, 2,000 bags of vermin cast of 25 kg each, 11,428.20 bundles of cassava stalks, two million bangus fry and four million prawn fry.
Palacat said the distribution of calamity assistance is underway in the city’s six agricultural districts.
In addition, Palacat said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to distribute 3,000 bags of rice of 25 kg each to affected farmers.
The DSWD also implemented cash for work program to further help alleviate the plight of the farmers and fisherfolk aside from giving them calamity assistance.
The cash for work program, which was implemented last month, benefitted a total of 3,000 farmers who were employed in two batches.
The participating farmers were paid P210 per day for 10 days of work that include desiltation, dredging and cleaning of riverbanks, irrigation canals and dams.
Palacat said the Department of Labor and Employment is also set to implement cash for work program next week.
Palacat said that 820 farmers will be employed for a 10-day work period. They will be paid P280 daily wage. (Bong Garcia)