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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solon tells DA to prepare quick response fund for drought-hit areas

Solon tells DA to prepare quick response fund for drought-hit areas

Published Apr 12, 2024 05:48 am

At A Glance

  • AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should be ready to disburse its Quick Response Fund (QRF) provided under the national budget amid the severe drought affecting various parts of the country.

drought.jpeg(Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should be ready to disburse its Quick Response Fund (QRF) provided under the national budget amid the severe drought affecting various parts of the country.

Lee issued this statement after the declaration of a state of calamity in San Enrique, Negros Occidental following weeks of high temperatures, dry weather conditions, and lack of rainfall.

About 90 percent of the town’s rice fields have reportedly dried up already.

The lawmaker said farmers couldn’t even start replanting due to the unfavorable weather conditions brought upon by El Niño.

At least 20 local government units (LGUs) had earlier declared a state of calamity due to the extreme heat.

“Kailangang i-expect natin na sa darating na mga linggo ay madadagdagan pa ang mga lugar na magdedeklara ng state of calamity dahil sa matinding init at tagtuyot,” said Lee.

(We have to expect that in the coming weeks, there will be more places that will declare a state of calamity due to extreme heat and drought.)

“Kaya dapat siguraduhin ng DA na ready for release at download sa kanilang regional offices ang QRF kapag nagdeklara na ng state of calamity ang mga LGU para naman mabigyan ng agarang ayuda ang mga apektadong magsasaka sa mga lugar na ‘yon,” he added.

(The DA should make sure that the QRF is ready for release and download in their regional offices when the LGUs declare a state of calamity so that immediate aid can be given to the affected farmers in those areas.)

San Enrique is one of the top rice-producing towns in Negros Occidental. A large chunk of the town’s 2,884.75-hectare land area are rice farms.

Meanwhile, Lee also called on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to coordinate possible cloud-seeding operations over major farm areas in the country.

“Patuloy na mahihirapan ang mga magsasaka sa kanilang produksyon hangga’t hindi sapat ang irigasyon,” he said.

(Farmers will continue to struggle with their production as long as irrigation is not sufficient.)

“Dapat proactive tayo at hindi reactive dahil buhay at hanapbuhay ang nakataya dito,” the solon stressed.

(We must be proactive and not reactive because lives and jobs are at stake here.)

The ongoing dry spell in the country is expected to persist until May.

Related Tags

Drought wilbert lee Quick Response Fund (QRF) El Niño
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