ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has allotted P8 million to assist farmers totally affected by the El Nino phenomenon in Western Visayas.

Agriculture Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales said that the DoLE, in a joint meeting with the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) last Friday disclosed that farmers whose crops are totally damaged by the drought will be given priorities.

Of said P8 million, the agency will set aside P2.5 million for cash assistance and some P4 million for livelihood support.

To date, an initial 1,076 farmers from eight Iloilo municipalities have been identified as recipients of said cash assistance.

These farmers are from the towns of Ajuy, Dingle, Igbaras, Mina, Passi, Sta. Barbara and Pavia.

In a timeline earlier presented by the DoLE, it is expected that the assistance will be handed to the farmer-recipients in April.

Nacionales also disclosed that the agency had already purchased some P2-million worth of vegetable seeds that will be given to affected farmers.

Three municipalities, Barotac Nuevo, Passi City and Sta. Barbara were expected to have received their seed bags from the DA Saturday.

Nacionales also said farmers who are members of irrigators' associations will be prioritized as recipients of shallow tube wells that will be arriving next week.

The Western Visayas region has been allotted 100 shallow tube wells and pump kits to be lent to affected farmers only.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) has disbursed some P2.021 million to 398 farmers badly hit by the El Niño phenomenon in Iloilo.

PCIC Director for Region 6, Charlito Brilleta said a huge chunk of claims worth P1.4 million went to 255 rice farmers in Iloilo.

The area covered by the insurance is about 388 hectares of rice-planted areas.

For their part, 76 corn farmers have also reportedly received their claims totaling P282,000. The insured affected areas, mostly in Sara town, are about 11 hectares.

Brilleta also said the agency only covers farmers with irrigated lands because effective August 1, the PCIC can no longer accommodate affected farmers in rain-fed areas.

To date, he said, his office is still processing 35 pending applications even as it is validating other areas that are insured so as to be able to estimate amounts that have to be released.