BORONGAN CITY- No less than Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol visited Jipapad town, Eastern Samar after tropical depression ‘Samuel’ rendered the whole town flooded with heavy rains.
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Eastern Samar chanced upon the Secretary’s convoy of vehicles in Barangay Buray, Paranas on their way to Jipapad town with other representatives from government agencies.
“Titingnan natin kung ano ang maitutulong natin sa agriculture doon,” Piñol told the PIA and Radyo Pilipinas.
The Secretary himself posted on Facebook page his departments’ intervention for the flooded Eastern Samar town.
Piñol said he has allotted some P30 million to Jipapad town to help the farmers move on from the calamity brought by TD Samuel.
The Secretary reported that some 640 hectares of rice fields were damaged, so he pledged to provide at least some P5,000 to each farmer or fisherfolk family affected by the flood under the Survival and Recovery (Loaning) Program.
He added he will extend a P10 million loan fund under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) Program from DA Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
He said he will also give out rice seeds to the 641 hectares of rice fields and vegetable seeds for the women’s groups.
Still another is the P1.5 million capitalization fund and P1.5million to purchase hauling truck for the coconut farmers for them to buy copra and deliver the same directly to oil mills.
In addition, he will provide two 35 HP tractors with plow and rotavators and three 30-footer fiberglass fishing boats from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
He also facilitated the opening of a special NFA outlet so that Jipapadnons can readily buy cheap rice until their full recovery.
Piñol’s post generated 1.4 likes and reactions, 340 shares and close to 100 comments praising the secretary for his love and care to the families in Jipapad town.
(PIA 8-E Samar)
