MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, Philippines — Through Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala, President Benigno S. Aquino III distributed more than P92 million worth of assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in Bulacan whose crops and fishponds were severely damaged by heavy flooding wrought by back-to-back typhoons “Pedring” and “ Quiel.”

Alcala together with Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy Alvarado and National Irrigation Administrator Engineer Antonio Nangel made an ocular inspection on devastated farmlands and fishponds in the towns of Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong and Pulilan last weekend.

The DA secretary told farmers and fisherfolk at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here that President Aquino had instructed him to go to provinces devastated by the recent typhoon and personally assess the damage and extend assistance to affected farmers and fisherfolk.

Alvarado said the assistance given to the province of Bulacan by Department of Agriculture (DA) includes P54.5 million for irrigation facilities; P5 million seed fund for crop insurance premium; and P33 million worth of certified seeds.

He also said that 27 million bangus fry, 23 million tilapia fingerlings and 500 gilnets will also be distributed to affected fisherfolk.

Aside from this, Alcala also turned over to the Provincial Agriculture Office headed 2 units multi-purpose drying pavement, 2 units flatbed dryers, 1 unit mini 4-wheel tractor, 1 unit rice reaper, 2 units combine harvester , 10 units drumseedet and 1 moisture meter.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that almost 36,000 hectares of cropland and almost 10,000 hectares of fishponds and fishpens were damaged by rampaging floods brought by the twin typhoons.

At least 27,000 farmers and 2,200 fisherfolks were affected, the PDRRMO said. The total damage to agriculture have reached P2.5 billion.

Alvarado thanked Aquino and Alcala for the assistance extended to affected municipalities and cities in Bulacan.