Panayam kay DA Spokesperson Asec. Arnel de Mesa
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00:00 We will continue to monitor the effects of shear lines in the agriculture sector in Eastern Visayas.
00:06 We will talk with Assistant Secretary Arnel Demesa, the spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture.
00:14 Asek Demesa, good afternoon. This is Ninia and Eunice.
00:18 Hi Eunice and Ninia, good afternoon to all the listeners and viewers. Good afternoon.
00:25 Alright, Asek, 20 places in Eastern Visayas have been affected by flooding in the State of Calamity.
00:33 In the agriculture sector, how important are the estimated losses in agricultural commodities now, especially in areas affected by flooding?
00:46 Eunice, regarding flooding, our consolidation of the damage report, we have 20 million damage, particularly in our rice areas.
01:09 That's why we issued a notice that our ECPC Assure Loan, this is the Survival and Recovery Loan of P25,000 for our affected farmers.
01:32 We will return to Asek Demesa, he has a problem with his line. Asek, how big is the estimated loss in our agricultural commodities in areas affected by flooding?
01:49 Hi Eunice and Ninia, good afternoon again. Our share line as of today, our affected farmers are about 6,486.
02:00 The estimated damage is about P147 million. Our rice is the most affected, about P145 million.
02:14 Sir, from which municipalities and cities in the region, did these reports of heavy flooding and impact on agricultural products come from?
02:29 The most reported damage is in the province of Capiz, about P80 million. In the northern summer, about P45 million.
02:41 This is the most reported damage. And of course, in Region 5, the province of Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon.
02:51 So seven provinces, including the eastern summer and the province of Samar.
02:59 Okay, according to the report, northern summer, the most reported agri-damages.
03:08 How big is the estimated area affected by flooding? And how many farmers are affected now? Also, how much is the damage?
03:19 The total affected farmers are 6,486. The affected area is about 7,415 hectares in the seven provinces of Bicol, Region 6 and Eastern Visayas.
03:40 So this is the biggest damage in Eastern Visayas. And this totaled P147 million in total damage. And most of this is in our rice area.
03:54 Sir, this is really common in the summer, there are lands that are still being plowed as per monitoring in our provinces.
04:04 But what are the next steps of the Agriculture Department in this situation?
04:10 And what assistance is expected from the government to help farmers to recover from their losses?
04:19 You are right, Eunice. Our Regional Field Office is ready.
04:24 Our buffer stock of seeds is ready. This is more than 2,100 bags. This is worth more than P3 million.
04:35 Even the P2 million of corn, P2 million of assorted vegetables, and our livestock and alternative livelihoods.
04:44 This is more than P10 million ready and available. And we have also reached out to the ECPC, our Agricultural Credit Policy Council,
04:55 for the provision of our Survival and Recovery Loan Program. This is worth P25,000 to each affected farmer.
05:05 This is not collateral and not interest and can be paid within three years.
05:11 To clarify, in this situation, what is happening to the planting and cropping season in the past?
05:22 How long will this last if the floodwater is already flowing?
05:27 After the flood, there will be a cleaning and the land will be prepared for farming.
05:36 So when our farmers are ready, the local government and our Regional Field Offices will help.
05:43 We will have machinery to prepare the land for farming.
05:49 Now, it is mid-November. This is still the start of our planting season that we expect to harvest by March or April next year.
05:58 So our planting season is still right and I hope that there will be no more bad times for the continuous planting of our farmers.
06:09 Asec, do we have any updates on the buffer stocks from your warehouses?
06:15 Our buffer stocks are on standby. It was procured early on because we are preparing.
06:23 For the next year, we have an early procurement that is happening in all our regions.
06:29 It is pre-season so that every time there are such cases, it is ready to be used for rice, corn and our vegetables.
06:38 It is on standby so that we are sure that our Regional Field Offices will immediately provide something.
06:46 The local governments are happy.
06:49 Asec, any messages and reminders for our fellow countrymen, especially those affected by flooding?
06:59 Thank you very much, Nina and Eunice, for the opportunity.
07:03 Our Regional Field Office is now ready and our affected farmers can contact their municipal and provincial agriculturists
07:14 to immediately meet their needs, especially those affected by flooding in the seven provinces.
07:23 Again, thank you very much and good afternoon.
07:26 All right. Thank you very much for the update.
07:28 That's all for now.
07:29 Assistant Secretary Arndell De Mesa, the spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture.