Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has said he will ask the Land Bank of the Philippines to give special allocation specifically to Davao banana planters hardest hit by typhoon "Pablo."
He admitted that the national government is currently facing an enormous problem on how to raise tens of billions of pesos to fund the damage caused by the typhoon in the significant sectors of agriculture/fisheries and infrastructure, particularly in the hardest hit areas of Compostela Valley province and Davao Oriental.
He said the total cost of damage brought about by "Pablo" in agriculture and fisheries in Davao Region alone was estimated at P7.938 billion. Of this amount, the banana sector suffered the most damage at about P5.6 billion.
Alcala was in Davao City on Friday together with 10 other Cabinet members for the briefing on the impact of typhoon "Pablo" and the corresponding rehabilitation before President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The 10 other Cabinet members were Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, who helped the President assessed the extent of the damage in the area.
He said the government could allocate an initial quick response funding of less than P300 million to initially fund rehabilitation operations.
The intervention is necessary to prevent foreign buyers from turning on to other suppliers in view of the non-availability of supply of all crops.
Alcala expressed fears that if this happens, it would not be good for the industry.
At this point in time, however, the official is confident foreign buyers understand the predicament Davao Region is facing in view of the devastating effect of typhoon Pablo.
“Sa ngayon, I know foreign markets can still understand,” he said, adding that for now, no foreign buyers, among them Japan, China, Singapore and Hong Kong, have expressed decision to turn to other suppliers.
On the part of government, it would tap nurseries and tissue laboratories in unaffected areas like the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Region 12 and Region 10 for the propagation of planting materials.
Alcala said the government is now pre-positioning the provision of certified seed hybrid for rice and yellow corn. It will also provide planting materials for the banana sector.
For coconut, the major crop in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, will take two years to produce from the time of replanting.
“To give the farmers livelihood while waiting for the yields, government will help farmers engage to inter-cropping, The Philippine Coconut Authority board had already met to discuss the decision to give the board the authority to provide fertilizers for the coconut farmers,” he said.
At the briefing, Alcala reported that about 23,000 hectares of rice lands were destroyed by typhoon Pablo valued at about P133.404 million; 16,582 hectares for corn amounting to P28.825 million; and coconut plantations estimated at 14,879 hectares valued at about P763.509 million.
Alcala informed the President that the DA has readied rice and corn seeds for massive replanting at the devastated rice lands in Davao Region, particularly in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.
For fish cages, seaweeds and mariculture, the cost of damage was estimated at P24 million. Infrastructure damage was placed at P938 billion Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson said at the briefing that the reported damage in infrastructure in hardest hit two Davao provinces was estimated at P938 billion.
He said the cost of damage incurred “is the biggest” in the region.
He attributed the huge cost of damage to the destroyed long bridge in Davao Oriental.
The biggest problem, he said, is the Palma Gil Bridge in Caraga which is half cut by typhoon Pablo. The other bridge is the Lumao Bridge which, he said, was temporarily passable as of Saturday.
Aside from the bridges, several roads were damaged by the typhoon both in the affected areas in the two provinces.
President Aquino, when asked by a member of the media how much the government would initially allocate, said the government will use the P4-billion calamity fund for rehabilitation.
He said he has also directed the Department of Budget and Management to look for funds in the amount of P8 billion to augment the calamity fund.
The President noted that seven spans of the Palma Gil Bridge in Caraga were totally damaged.
He said as per report of the DPWH, though it would be passable by Thursday next week, it will take more days to finish the entire seven spans.
Singson said DPWH has already deployed 66 units of heavy equipment in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley for the infra rehabilitation.
At least 766 personnel are also deployed to the affected areas and DPWH is currently using quick response fund in the rehabilitation operations, he added. (PNA)
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