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THE
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
on Tuesday lauded the efforts of local government units
(LGUs) in carrying out massive relief and rehabilitation
to cushion the impact of the dry spell in Luzon.
In
particular, the DILG chief underscored the key role
played by the provincial government of Ilocos Norte,
Pangasinan, Cagayan, Nueva Ecija and Kalinga, which, he
said, helped alleviate the plight of small farmers in
their areas.
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the relief efforts
were part of the remedial measures and interventions
made by LGUs to address the problems encountered by
farmers, in this case, the dry spell.
Earlier, President Arroyo tasked Puno to “lead the
watch” over the national and local government efforts to
prevent disasters and respond to calamities, assisted by
the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
To
carry out the presidential directive, the DILG chief
designated undersecretary for peace and order Melchor
Rosales, a former executive director of the NDCC, as
head of the DILG task force that will “closely monitor
and regularly publicize” the efforts of the national
government and LGUs in providing aid to farmers and
rural folk hit by the dry spell and heavy rains caused
by typhoons.
DILG
Region 1 reports indicated that the dry spell has
damaged an estimated P1.57 million in agricultural
crops, fisheries and livestock in the region, with
Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan incurring the most damage;
Region 2 incurred P577.7 million worth of damage,
especially in the hardest-hit province of Cagayan;
Region III with an estimated damage of P57.5 million,
with Nueva Ecija taking the highest damage; and
Cordillera Autonomous Region with P6.8 million in
damage, with Kalinga experiencing the worst effects of
the dry spell.
The
same report also noted the measures undertaken by LGUs
to address the problem of the dry spell, such as in
Ilocos Norte, where 262 bags of palay and corn seeds
were distributed to farmers in the towns of Banna,
Carasi, Dumalneg, Sarrat, Vintar and Paoay; several
sacks of fertilizer were given to 400 farmers in 49
barangays of Laoag City; and another 65 sacks were
distributed in the towns of Banna, Carais, Sarrat and
Vintar.
Other
LGU interventions in the province include the
distribution of 10 water pumps to farmers in Bagui,
Dumalneg and San Nicolas; rehabilitation and dredging of
irrigation canals in Batac, Bacarra, Pagudpud, Burgos
and Dingras; rehabilitation of small-farm reservoirs and
diversion dams in Solson and Batac; and distribution of
relief goods to families in Bugos, Pinili, Laoag and
Pasuquin.
In
Pangasinan hybrid rice, corn and vegetable seeds were
distributed to farmers and affected families in San
Quintin, Sison, Villasis, Alcala and Santa Maria; and 10
units of jetmatic pumps were provided to farmers in
Rosales through farmer cooperatives.
In
Cagayan fertilizer and seed assistance were provided to
farmers in Abulug, Alcala and Santa Praxides, while the
municipal council of Santa Praxides passed a resolution
declaring the town under the state of calamity and
allocated P7 million for the purchase of seeds and
fingerlings in time for the long drought.
On
the other hand, the provincial disaster coordinating
council (PDCC) of Nueva Ecija is now finalizing its
Comprehensive Provincial Disaster Management and
Preparedness Plan, and all city and municipal disaster
coordinating councils are currently being reorganized
and in constant coordination with the PDCC. |
