Marcos promises support for farmers affected by drought

Feeling the heat? Us too, and it's not just us – even the plants are feeling it! Farmers are banking on good weather for their crops to thrive, but this scorching heat isn't doing them any favors.

Do not fear because The government is prepared to help workers in the agricultural sector and other industries severely impacted by the El Niño phenomenon, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. informed them.

The assistance was promised at the same time that the Department of Agriculture (DA) estimated P5.9 billion in agricultural loss due to the El Niño phenomenon, with 113,585 farmers and fishermen in 12 districts suffering from drought.

The impacted workers will "soon" receive government support, according to the President, which was a component of the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the DA's ongoing initiative.

He said that the government would give aid to those in Mindanao the highest priority.

El Niño was affecting 2.97 million people, or 695,149 people, from 3,905 barangays (villages) in 13 regions as of May 1, according to the DSWD.

As of April 16, 73,713 farmers and fishermen were affected by the P97.275 million worth of family food packs and nonfood relief supplies that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had given to affected areas in 11 regions. 66,065 hectares of farmlands were affected, with an estimated P3.94 billion in damage to the agricultural sector across 11 regions.

The impacted farmers and fishermen have received P1.09 billion in aid from the DA, which includes production support, financial and economic assistance, and water management. To assist fishermen, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has given 111 varied alternative livelihoods and technologies to the regions of the Cordillera, Bicol, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula. El Niño has affected 104,402 hectares of cropland, of which 72.67% may yet be recoverable.

In order to improve water supply, the government has placed 616 water pumps in seven different districts. At least ten regions that have been severely hit by the El Niño phenomena have received P541 million in relief. It is anticipated that the El Niño phenomenon would continue until the end of this month.