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The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON continues to implement recovery and rehabilitation plans of DA and its partner bureaus and agencies through the Taal Recovery and Rehabilitation Program. The program primarily aims to reinvigorate the region’s agricultural sector which incurred P553-million worth of agricultural damages and losses due to the spewed ashes, thereby affecting 55,423 farmers.

Aside from the P130-M worth of farm inputs and immediate interventions initially distributed last January 18, 2020, the regional office launched the Taal Recovery and Rehabilitation Program in order to maximize the P357-M Quick Response Fund (QRF) allotted by the Department for the long-term recovery and rehabilitation of the 28 cities and municipalities of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas that were severely affected by the eruption.

One of the largest budget allocations was programmed on the restocking of animals. Through the Regional Livestock Program, the Department was able to procure 1,428 cattle, 522 carabao, and 975 goats. The distribution of the livestock interventions, including supplements/drugs and biologics, started last May 1, 2020 in Laurel, Batangas.

On May 21, 2020, livestock interventions worth P5.86M for Tanauan farmer-beneficiaries were distributed.

DA CALABARZON Regional Director Arnel de Mesa; Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Research and Regulations, and Regional Livestock Program Coordinator Ms. Vilma Mendoza Dimaculangan; and ARD for Operations Mr. Dennis Arpia, in coordination with the city government of Tanauan, facilitated the distribution of day-old chicks, goats, and biologics/supplements.

“The distribution of the livelihood assistance package is just part of the many interventions, including the early-released urban gardening kits and inputs, the regional office has more in store for the farmers and fisherfolks of CALABARZON, especially those who were severely affected by the Taal volcano eruption,” Director de Mesa said.

A total of 200 farmer-beneficiaries from the said municipality received the livelihood assistance package on broiler production composing of 50 heads of day-old chicks, a 3 ft x 8 ft x 4 ft cage, one bag each of chicken booster and chicken grower mash, and 10 sachets of veterinary drugs.

Meanwhile, 12 farmer-beneficiaries received 60 heads of goat.

Based on the predetermined allocation of small and large ruminants, farmer-beneficiaries from Tanauan City shall receive a total of 100 cattle, 30 carabao, and 60 goats.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako dahil malaking tulong po ang livelihood assistance package na ipinagkaloob ninyo sa amin. Makakaasa po kayong palalaguin at pararamihin ko po ang mga sisiw na ito,” Ms. Myrna Tolentino, one of the farmer-beneficiaries of the livestock interventions, shared.

The remaining portion of the QRF shall be allocated and spent on the following: provisions of seeds, planting materials, fertilizer/soil ameliorants, supplements/drugs and biologics, and rehabilitation of processing facility.

On the other hand, Director de Mesa reassured the fisheries sector of the region that a fund allocation amounting to P82M was released to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources IV-A in order to help the fisherfolk who were also affected by the eruption.

Other farmer-beneficiaries from nearby areas such a Talisay, Lipa City, and Laurel also received livelihood assistance package on broiler production and goat on the same day, benefiting a total of 432 recipients. • (SDAL, DA-RAFIS)