THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked a total of P78 million to provinces and cities in Northern Mindanao to fund various agri-fishery projects.

Agriculture Sec. Proceso J. Alcala said the provinces of Camiguin, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental and the cities of Iligan and Cagayan De Oro are the recipients of the fund.

The agri-fishery projects include the construction of farm-to-market (FMR) roads, trading centers and other agricultural infrastructure porjects. The fund will also be used to distribute farm implements and inputs to select farmers.

Alcala said the province of Camiguin received a total of P41.7 million worth of FMR and agricultural projects; Iligan City, P23.6 million; Cagayan de Oro, P4.6 million; and Bukidnon, P7.9 million.

The DA chief also visited areas in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro adversely affected by Typhoon Sendong where he gave away packages of assistance to farmers and their families to enable them to rehabilitate their farms.

In Iligan City, where damage caused by “Sendong” reached close to P80 million, Alcala distributed farm animals and equipment to residents of Bayug, Hinaplanon and nearby communities.

Alcala also approved P1.1 million worth of livelihood projects for the barangay which would involve the procurement of 70 hogs, two heads of carabao with farm implements, a fishing boat, two rubber boats, and a revolving capital for a barangay food terminal.

He said the department opted to provide “sustainable livelihood projects” which will benefit people in the affected areas in the long-term.

“Sendong” struck several regions in Mindanao and caused extensive damage to properties in the affected provinces.

The landslides and the floods killed more than 1,000 in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro and caused billions of pesos in damage to farm lands and properties.