ZAMBOANGA CITY – Department of Agriculture (DA) Sec. Emmanuel Piñol is visiting on Friday, January 5, the areas that were affected by the recent onslaught of Tropical Storm “Vinta” here in Region 9.
DA Regional Director Constancio Alama on Thursday said Piñol would conduct aerial inspection on the areas ravaged by the storm and provide assistance by way of distribution of seeds to the affected farmers.
Alama said among the areas Piñol would visit are the municipalities of Salug and Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte; Dumingag, Mahayag, Molave, Ramon Magsaysay and Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur.
Alama said his office has available 6,000 bags of seeds of rice, corn and vegetables to be distributed to the affected farmers.
He said these would be augmented by 5,000 bags of seeds coming from the agency’s office in Region 3. The seeds were transported to the port of Dapitan City aboard a boat of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
He said partial data they gathered showed that 2,549 farmers were affected by Tropical Storm “Vinta.”
He added that the storm has destroyed 1,523.1 hectares of rice, corn, root crops and high values crops-banana, rubber and abaca.
“He (DA chief) is also expected to meet with the local government unit officials to see how the department can extend help, especially to the affected farmers,” Alama added.
On Thursday, Piñol visited the typhoon-ravaged areas in the province of Lanao del Sur. (PNA)
