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NewsTranscript
00:00 We are still here in San Miguel, Bulacan
00:03 and I am in the middle of one of the farms
00:06 where we can see how much the El Nino effect has been.
00:11 And we can see here, the ground I am stepping on
00:14 is really dry because there is no water coming out of their farm.
00:23 What the farmers are telling us is that
00:25 by March, their crops should be higher in the fields
00:32 and they can really harvest this March.
00:35 But we can see that it is really dry
00:38 and 100% of their crops are not harvested.
00:45 If we compare this to other places,
00:51 we can see that there are still some green crops in the faraway places
00:57 because the owners of those farms
01:01 are getting water from their own wells.
01:06 But some farmers, like the owner of this farm,
01:12 do not have their own wells.
01:13 That is why they are not getting water.
01:17 And the authorities cannot give them water.
01:24 At this point, we will talk to Glenn Ortiz.
01:27 He is an agriculturalist of the local government of San Miguel, Bulacan.
01:32 Good morning to you all.
01:33 Sir, come here.
01:34 Come closer. It is a bit difficult so be careful.
01:37 Alright, good morning.
01:39 Good morning.
01:39 First of all, we saw how big and wide the effect is
01:44 of the El Nino plant.
01:46 Is this also the situation we see in other farms here in San Miguel, Bulacan?
01:54 Yes, in this barangay, Sacdalan,
01:57 this is the widest area that has been damaged by the El Nino plant.
02:01 It is in almost 200 to 300 hectares.
02:08 In other barangays, there are also around 100 hectares.
02:13 But in the whole of San Miguel, out of 49 barangays,
02:16 we have 25 barangays that have been affected by the El Nino plant.
02:22 Alright, so what we are saying is that there is no water.
02:28 Others, at least, have a well.
02:30 How about those who don't have one?
02:32 Do we have people who can help them?
02:35 Are we really just going to wait for the next season?
02:39 Or will the local government still be able to help
02:44 to save the other green areas that we see here?
02:50 Yes, regarding those who have been affected,
02:53 we have already done a damage assessment in our town.
03:00 Those who have been affected have already been insured
03:05 with Philippine Crop Insurance.
03:06 We have already helped them to report quickly
03:11 to all the farmers here in San Miguel
03:14 so that they can get some resources
03:19 that they can use for their next cropping.
03:22 Here in our town, we are currently planning
03:27 to plant high value crops here,
03:31 such as water impounding or alternative crops
03:38 that they can temporarily plant.
03:42 That is what I wanted to ask.
03:44 Earlier, I asked the farmers here
03:47 if they have high value crops that they can give them.
03:50 They said that they don't have any.
03:51 Yes, we are planning to give them some.
03:55 So you will give them some?
03:55 Yes.
03:56 They are saying that they have insured crops
04:02 but they still haven't received any help.
04:05 Yes, regarding the insurance,
04:06 we are currently doing some processes.
04:09 We are still looking into it under CIN
04:12 and Philippine Crop Insurance.
04:14 But as of now, we have already reported to all the farmers.
04:20 This week, we might be able to validate it
04:23 with Crop Insurance.
04:24 Alright. Thank you very much for the information
04:26 that you have given us and for your time.
04:29 We hope that, especially those who are affected by the crop,
04:33 that they will be given help,
04:35 such as high value crops,
04:37 and the assistance in the process of insurance
04:39 so that they can still have a livelihood
04:42 even if this is how their crops were received.
04:44 Yes.
04:45 Thank you very much.
04:46 I am Glenn Ortiz,
04:47 the Agriculturist of the Local Government of San Miguel, Bulacan.
04:51 [News broadcast]
05:03 [Music]