DA allots P7 million aid to 1,561 farmers, fisherfolk affected by Taal unrest

PRECAUTION Residents of Barangay Boso-boso in Laurel town, Batangas province, are moved to safety (upper photo) after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), through one of its crater cameras, monitors a phreatomagmatic burst at Taal Volcano at 7:22 a.m. on Saturday. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/PHIVOLCS

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allotted P7 million to assist 1,561 farmers and fisherfolk affected by the Taal Volcano unrest.

“Meron pong 1,561 na apektado na po ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda dahil po sila ay evacuees din po sa bayan ng Agoncillo sa Batangas sa barangay po ng Banyaga at Bilibinwang,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa told President Rodrigo Duterte during the taped address to the nation aired Wednesday.

(There are 1,561 affected farmers and fisherfolk, they are also evacuees, in Agoncillo town in Batangas, in the barangays of Banyaga and Bilibinwang.)

“Dahil po rito, Mr. President, ay naglaan po agad tayo, ang ating regional field office sa Calabarzon, ganu’n din po ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, ng P7 million na handa po nating ipamigay,” said De Mesa.

(Because of this, Mr. President, our regional field office, along with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, set aside P7 million for them.)

Among the assistance that will be provided are inbred seeds, glutinous corn, vegetable seeds, and tilapia fingerlings.

De Mesa likewise said that the DA is prepared should a destructive volcanic eruption occur.

“Kung sakali po na magkakaroon po ng destructive volcanic eruption, nakahanda po ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka ng mahigit sa P200 million out of the quick response fund po natin ngayong taon, Calendar Year 2022, para po magbigay po ng additional na mga ayuda sa atin pong apektadong magsasaka at mangingisda,” he said.

(In case there would be a destructive volcanic eruption, the DA has P200 million out of the quick response fund for 2022 to give additional aid to affected farmers and fisherfolk.)

So far, the DA has not received any damage reports on agriculture and fisheries in Taal-affected areas.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology early Wednesday said that Taal Volcano registered four volcanic tremors in the past 24 hours.

Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 3 or magmatic unrest.

EDV