TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Rice farmers in Carigara town of Leyte were assured by the provincial government of rice seeds assistance that will be implemented by the local government unit (LGU) of Carigara through the Department of Agriculture in the region.

Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, who recently visited various barangays in Carigara, said that the recent rice seeds support of the province was first downloaded to Leyte’s First District, as they were the ones heavily affected by the flooding that occurred in March.

The rice seeds subsidy is also being extended to other farmers in the province, particularly those heavily hit by floods during the previous months’ rains, and have yet to plant for the new cropping season, said the governor.

It was learned that Carigara local government, through Mayor Trinidad Apostol, would be providing a half-sack of rice seeds each to affected farmers; however the province can add another half to complete one sack-full of rice seeds for one rice farmer, the governor said.

According to an assessment of the agriculture situation in the Second District of Leyte, most of the rice lands in 14 towns comprising the district were submerged in water. Heavily affected by flooding were rice lands located in the towns of Carigara, Jaro, Julita, Dulag, Mayorga, Macarthur and Tabon-Tabon.

The second District is considered as the rice granary of the province, as most of the province’s rice production comes from its member towns. Damage to agriculture during the recent rains was pegged at P13 million covering 10,000 hectares.

Up to date, a number of rice farmers have yet to start planting for the new cropping season. Lack of capital for rice seeds is among the obstacles the farmers face. Local officials in Carigara town have earlier aired concern on a probable decrease of rice production.

“We know that there are many of our farmers all over the province who are already up to neck in debts, after their rice farms were affected by the flooding. We are doing our best to help them one at a time,” Governor Petilla said.