Ornamental plant growers and farmers in Silang, Cavite received P3,064,699 worth of agricultural support from Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON, through its Taal Recovery and Rehabilitation Program, on September 17, 2020. This program aims to help farmers, including ornamental plant growers, whose livelihoods were seriously damaged by earlier this year’s Taal volcano eruption.

 

DA recognizes the ornamental plant growing industry as a part of the agriculture sector, according to Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa. “It is only expected that our ornamental plant growers would also be helped by DA, especially when they were also heavily affected by the eruption of Taal,” said Director de Mesa.

 

Mayor of Silang, Hon. Socorro Rosario “Corie” F. Poblete expressed her utmost gratitude for the unwavering support of DA to ornamental growers and farmers in Silang. “Thank you for helping us during the devastation of Taal and particularly during this current COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you will never get tired of helping Silang farmers and may you continue to trust us with the much-needed interventions,” Mayor Poblete said. 

 

Ms. Elizabeth S. Lopez, president of the Pook Ornamental Growers’ Association, thanked DA for the interventions they have received. She said that the explosion of Taal really took a huge toll on their livelihood and by the time they tried to restore their source of income, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, taking all Silang ornamental plant growers, not just members of the association, down to zero. “We are reviving our livelihoods with the help of DA interventions, inch by inch,” Ms. Lopez shared. 

 

Mr. Anselmo E. Noveno, Federation of Silang Ornamental Plant Growers president, shared the same experience with Ms. Lopez when Taal’s ash and the latest pandemic destroyed their livelihoods. He also showed the same appreciation for the helping hand of DA to ornamental farmers like him. “The regional office is helping us to get through these adversaries and we will always be thankful for their never-ending support for ornamental farmers and growers,” Mr. Noveno said.  

 

Included in the agricultural support they have received are 428 packets of assorted cut flowers, 5,000 packs of assorted seedling bags, and 2,000 bundles of soft pots. (MAP, DA-RAFIS)