Members of the Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives have filed a resolution asking the Duterte administration to provide “urgent relief” for farming communities in the Eastern Visayas, which has been affected by typhoons.
In House Resolution (HR) 613 filed by Party-list Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna, Ariel Casilao of AnakPawis, Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, Antonio Tinio and France Castro of ACT Teachers, and Sarah Jane Elago of Kabataan urged President Duterte to help typhoon victims in the Eastern Visayas.
In their resolution, the lawmakers said Eastern Visayas was heavily battered by Supertyphoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013, especially the agricultural sector that serves as the major source of livelihood of farmers in the region. “Among the provinces in the region, Leyte was hardest-hit as indicated by the majority of the damaged houses: 381,810 houses of 492,856 houses in the region; 5,402 of 5,902 dead; 441,588 of 1,006,718 affected; and 3,109 of 3,613 evacuees,” they said, citing the report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Less than a year after Yolanda hit the region, the lawmakers added that Typhoon Glenda struck Eastern Visayas on July 13, 2014, and that Samar island was worst-hit among the provinces in the region. On December 5 Typhoon Ruby hit Eastern Visayas and affected all the provinces in the region.
“Within a month, Typhoon Seniang again ravaged the region as the worst hit, as nearly half, or 1,450 of the 3,523 total, houses damaged were from the region, with Leyte at 1,209 houses; also, of the total 602,627 affected persons in the country, 262,069 were from Eastern Visayas; 32 of 66 dead were also from the region,” they added.
The solons said these consecutive typhoons from November 2013 to December 2014, which battered the region, not only affected their houses or dwellings, but their sources of livelihood, as well.
The lawmakers, citing the Samahan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Sinirangan Bisayas (Sagupa-SB or Alliance of Peasants in Eastern Visayas) and People Surge, said Eastern Visayas sustained damages amounting to P25.875 billion. Losses in the agriculture sector reached P22.1 billion; fisheries P353.5 million; houses P3.15 billion; and public property P247.8 million.
Image credits: Mau Victa
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Attention should also be given to UPLAND Farmers. It has been observed that development or rehabilitation is concentrated on Rice and Coconut
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f67d1881e83de475305e934fc0bed5bf80acb120707437f4df88484946e024f8.jpg farming. How about those totally dependent on ROOT CROPS and TUBERS ? AQUA and MARICULTURE are also importatant.