Bicol farmers, fisherfolk suffer ‘severe losses’ due to storms

CANAL CLEARING A farmer in Magarao, Camarines Sur province, clears assorted debris along irrigation canals after Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Yagi) hit parts of Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions on Sunday. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Bicol has started cleanup activities to prevent clogging and ensure water flowing through its canals. —Photo courtesy of NIA Region V

MANILA, Philippines — A group of farmers from the Bicol region has asked the government for help after recent weather disturbances damaged almost all of their rice crops, leaving them “barely managing” to harvest around five to 10 sacks of rice each from their still flooded fields.

In a statement the other day, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bicol (KMB) called for immediate aid and compensation after Tropical Storm “Enteng” and successive typhoons caused P537 million worth of damage to rice, corn and high-value crops.

After Enteng, the country experienced successive weather disturbances, starting with Tropical Storm Ferdie, Tropical Depression Gener and Tropical Storm Helen. Together, they caused widespread flooding in many areas due to heavy rains and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

READ: In Bicol, Enteng agri losses breach P350M

According to the statement, more than 18,000 farmers and fisherfolk from the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes were affected.

“Farmers are experiencing 80 percent to 100 percent losses in their expected rice harvest income, with farming costs ranging from P30,000 to P40,000 for low-end expenses, and P60,000 to P70,000 for higher-end expenses,” the KMB said.

Floodwaters, which could take at least a month to subside, have also displaced families from their homes, it added.

Rice packs not enough

The KMB said the Department of Social Welfare and Development had distributed more than 200,000 food packs in the Bicol region but these were “woefully inadequate,” as farmers have experienced “severe losses” in their livelihood.

It urged the government to send help as the affected farmers were particularly in need of food, hygiene kits, water containers, tarpaulins, blankets and mosquito nets, as well as building materials for their damaged homes.

The group also said the farmers should be given land restoration support, such as dike repairs and mud clearing, and production support through seeds, farming inputs, capital for land preparation and replanting, farm animals, tools and machinery.