Solon presses Duterte to bail out drought stricken farmers
Published May 4, 2019 04:51 pm
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Anakpawis partylist Rep. Ariel "Ka Ayik" Casilao strongly urged President Duterte to tap his Presidential Social Fund to immediately extend assistance to farmers affected by drought, as damage to agriculture due to El Niño nearly reached P8 billion.
Anakpawis partylist Rep. Ariel “Ka Ayik” Casilao (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
He proposed that the farmers be given P35,000/hectare financial aid to distressed farmers nationwide to bail them out from indebtedness and enable them to continue cultivation when the climate conditions normalize.
"We are hearing many reports from the government about damages, but the farmers on the fields continue to lament that they have yet to receive any concrete support from the government," he said in a statement.
He estimated that the aggregate total of the P35,000 per hectare financial aid to 250,000 farmers would reach to P8.75 billion.
"On the possible sources of the aid, we seriously urge President Duterte to make use of his Presidential Social Fund, then the People's Survival Fund, Calamity Funds, Quick Response Funds, and the Municipal Development Funds," he said.
He noted that farmers from Isabela, under Dagami are demanding a P7 financial aid for every kilo of loss on potential harvest from their rice and corn farms.
"Thus, a 100-cavan yield per hectare of rice land, or around 5,000 kilo would amount an aid of P35,000," Casilao pointed out.
He laments that the number of affected farmers now reaches near 250,000 in the Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and BARMM.
Damages to rice crops reached more than P4 billion and to corn at P3.9 billion, he added.
Casilao pressed on the need for Congress to step in, as most of the funds, aside from the discretionary presidential fund, are allotted for credit schemes.
He said if necessary, he will push for a joint resolution for a supplemental budget that will directly distribute the funds to the affected farmers.
"Being hit by drought and seeing your crops dry up is totally depressing to farmers, especially when cost of rice production is around P50,000 to P80,000. If they aren't bailed out by the government and they are unable to resume cultivation, this will lead to a serious decline in harvest and eventual food crisis. I believe that the President would intend to avoid this gloomy situation, especially this time of election season," he said.
Anakpawis partylist Rep. Ariel “Ka Ayik” Casilao (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
He proposed that the farmers be given P35,000/hectare financial aid to distressed farmers nationwide to bail them out from indebtedness and enable them to continue cultivation when the climate conditions normalize.
"We are hearing many reports from the government about damages, but the farmers on the fields continue to lament that they have yet to receive any concrete support from the government," he said in a statement.
He estimated that the aggregate total of the P35,000 per hectare financial aid to 250,000 farmers would reach to P8.75 billion.
"On the possible sources of the aid, we seriously urge President Duterte to make use of his Presidential Social Fund, then the People's Survival Fund, Calamity Funds, Quick Response Funds, and the Municipal Development Funds," he said.
He noted that farmers from Isabela, under Dagami are demanding a P7 financial aid for every kilo of loss on potential harvest from their rice and corn farms.
"Thus, a 100-cavan yield per hectare of rice land, or around 5,000 kilo would amount an aid of P35,000," Casilao pointed out.
He laments that the number of affected farmers now reaches near 250,000 in the Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and BARMM.
Damages to rice crops reached more than P4 billion and to corn at P3.9 billion, he added.
Casilao pressed on the need for Congress to step in, as most of the funds, aside from the discretionary presidential fund, are allotted for credit schemes.
He said if necessary, he will push for a joint resolution for a supplemental budget that will directly distribute the funds to the affected farmers.
"Being hit by drought and seeing your crops dry up is totally depressing to farmers, especially when cost of rice production is around P50,000 to P80,000. If they aren't bailed out by the government and they are unable to resume cultivation, this will lead to a serious decline in harvest and eventual food crisis. I believe that the President would intend to avoid this gloomy situation, especially this time of election season," he said.