The chair of the House of Representatives’ labor and employment committee underscored the need to shift to climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries to avoid the crippling effects of disasters on the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk.
“We need to prioritize the shift to agriculture and fisheries that can cope with the harsher effects of climate change. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can help our farmers and fisherfolk escape the ever-deepening mire of poverty,” Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles said.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the damage to agriculture and fisheries sector caused by Typhoon Egay reached P1.53 billion, affecting 99,272 farmers and fisherfolk in eight regions, as of July 30.
The lawmaker bemoaned that the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk are endangered whenever typhoons occur.
He said that more needs to be done besides giving aid after typhoons.
“Until we transform our systems of agriculture and fisheries, our farmers and fisherfolk will be dependent on aid that will never be enough to recoup their losses,” he said.
“At sa panahon gaya ngayon na sunod-sunod ang bagyo, na ang nasalanta ay mas masasalanta pa, lumalalim ang problemang dinaranas nila,” he added.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the damage to agriculture and fisheries sector caused by Typhoon Egay reached P1.53 billion, affecting 99,272 farmers and fisherfolk in eight regions, as of July 30.
The DA reported the loss of at least 66.075 metric tons (MT) of produce, including rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries, in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos region (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4), Mimaropa (Region 4-A), Western Visayas (Region 6) and Caraga (Region 13).
Aside from crop seeds, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry, and fish fingerlings, the DA said that farmers and fisherfolk may also avail of the P25,000 loan under the Survival and Recovery Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
