Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON turned over a total of P46,423,320 worth of agricultural interventions to typhoon-affected farmers in the 1st district of Quezon, held in Brgy. Ibabang Palsabangon, Pagbilao, Quezon on October 30, 2020.

The value of agricultural aid received by each municipality was as follows: P860,000 (Burdeos), P2,068,200 (General Nakar), P4,303,680 (Infanta), P589,400 (Jomalig), P8,286,860 (Lucban), P2,834,080 (Mauban), P2,341,840 (Pagbilao), P808,000 (Panukulan), P924,000 (Patnanungan), P2,723,000 (Polilio), P1,029,000 (Real), P2,290,000 (Sampaloc), and P16,537,760 (Tayabas City). An additional assistance of P827,500 was also granted to the 1st district of Quezon.

Hon. Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga, 1st District of Quezon Representative and House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman, expressed his deep gratitude for the continued support of the Department in the agriculture industry in Quezon, especially to the 1st district.

“The agriculture department responded hastily to our farmers’ call for help by the time they were devastated by typhoon and I will forever be thankful for their unwavering support to the farmers in Quezon. Together with DA, we will see each other again to deliver you additional support in order for us to have a more progressive and sufficient agriculture sector in Quezon,” Cong. Enverga said.

Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa, on behalf of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, thanked the farmers and fishers from the 1st district of Quezon for their hard work and resilience even during the typhoons and the current pandemic. He said that without their commitment, the agriculture sector will not attain its positive growth in Gross Domestic Product during the second quarter.

“To our farmers in Quezon, your outstanding work in agriculture is incomparable. You are our frontliners both during the pandemic and during the typhoons. This P46 million worth of intervention will not be the end of the support that DA will be giving you, especially now that we are about to face two more weather disturbances that is predicted to be more devastating than the previous ones. Together with Cong. Enverga, we will get through all these problems and rise towards a better tomorrow in agriculture,” Director de Mesa said.

During his speech, Director de Mesa announced a P5,000 grant to eligible farmers and fishers wherein P3,000 is cash and P2,000 worth of eggs and chicken under the Social Amelioration Project of the regional office that is targeted to be distributed within the year. Aside from that, eligible farmers and fishers can also loan as much as P25,000 with zero interest and can be paid up to 10 years. With that information, the Director encouraged every farmer to register to the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture in order for them to benefit from these projects.

Mr. Rogelio Macaya, president of West Corn Growers’ Association of Tayabas City, expressed his deep appreciation to the regional office’s unceasing support to farmers in Quezon.

“Maraming salamat po sa DA dahil sa walang sawang pagtulong sa amin na mga magmamais. Labis po kaming naapektuhan ng nagdaang mga bagyo kung kaya’t napakalaking tulong po ng biyayang ito na ibinigay sa amin ngayong araw ng Kagawaran,” Mr. Macaya said. (MAP, DA-RAFIS)