LEGASPI CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. met with the heads of the National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Local Chief Executives for a situation briefing on Mayon Volcano activity at the Albay Astrodome on June 14, 2023.
“We have to take the load off the province and the municipalities, Wag na natin hintayin maubos ang pera ng LGUs. Ang hihingin lang natin sa LGUs is to identify the critical areas na dapat unahin. The minimum working number is 45 days or 6 weeks. Three months ang evacuees sa site, we have to think in the longer term. We have to give alternative activity and livelihood.” President Marcos said.
For the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office, DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla presented the pre-disaster report. According to him, prices of major agricultural commodities are stable despite the Alert Level 3 pronouncement. The Provincial Government of Albay headed by Governor Edcel “Grex” Lagman has already placed the entire Albay under the State of Calamity on June 9. Prevailing prices of major commodities are frozen for 60 days. Prices of major agri commodities may also be frozen in the event that spikes in prices are observed. Tornilla added that the DA Command Action Center is working 24/7 to closely monitor the situations in the affected areas and to provide the needed assistance at the animal evacuation sites.
As the Secretary of the DA, President Marcos was satisfied with the current interventions of the DA Regional Office but he said to continue to assess the damage to crops and livestock. “Para makapaghanda tayo ng dapat gawin. In the animal pooling sites, we have to be very careful, and conduct testing for all animals. Mahirap na kung magkasakit at maghawa-hawa,” President Marcos said. He also urged DA to provide vegetable planting materials in the evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, Director Tornilla also reported that a total of 5,760 hectares of agri crops are vulnerable in case Mayon activity intensifies. Vulnerable areas for crops are 1,377 hectares of rice; 703 hectares of corn; and 626 hectares of vegetable areas. For coconut, 55,416 hectares are vulnerable with 29,255 farmers; and 1,944 hectares abaca of the 1,259 abaca farmers. For livestock, 9,822 heads of large ruminants (cattle and carabao) and 413 small ruminants (goats, sheep) are vulnerable; including 30,000 heads poultry, and 7,179 heads swine. Also vulnerable are 40 hectares freshwater aquaculture owned by 1,311 operators.
Tornilla added that the DA Regional Office has at present P35.5 Million buffer stocks composed of rice seeds, corn seeds, vegetable seeds, agri supplies, fertilizer, animal feed, drugs and biologics.
The DA Bicol has already established an evacuation site for animals at the Albay Breeding Station. There are also 30 LGU-identified animal pooling sites in the eight municipalities under the permanent 6 to 8-kilometer danger zones. In the pipeline are the conduct of Kadiwa ng Pangulo near the evacuation sites. Establishment of communal gardens or Gulayan sa Paaralan and conduct of livelihood training with starter kits at the evacuation centers. (Lovella P. Guarin DA RAFIS 5)
President Marcos urges DA to provide livelihood at evac sites, ensure the health of evacuated animals
LEGASPI CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. met with the heads of the National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Local Chief Executives for a situation briefing on Mayon Volcano activity at the Albay Astrodome on June 14, 2023.
“We have to take the load off the province and the municipalities, Wag na natin hintayin maubos ang pera ng LGUs. Ang hihingin lang natin sa LGUs is to identify the critical areas na dapat unahin. The minimum working number is 45 days or 6 weeks. Three months ang evacuees sa site, we have to think in the longer term. We have to give alternative activity and livelihood.” President Marcos said.
For the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office, DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla presented the pre-disaster report. According to him, prices of major agricultural commodities are stable despite the Alert Level 3 pronouncement. The Provincial Government of Albay headed by Governor Edcel “Grex” Lagman has already placed the entire Albay under the State of Calamity on June 9. Prevailing prices of major commodities are frozen for 60 days. Prices of major agri commodities may also be frozen in the event that spikes in prices are observed. Tornilla added that the DA Command Action Center is working 24/7 to closely monitor the situations in the affected areas and to provide the needed assistance at the animal evacuation sites.
As the Secretary of the DA, President Marcos was satisfied with the current interventions of the DA Regional Office but he said to continue to assess the damage to crops and livestock. “Para makapaghanda tayo ng dapat gawin. In the animal pooling sites, we have to be very careful, and conduct testing for all animals. Mahirap na kung magkasakit at maghawa-hawa,” President Marcos said. He also urged DA to provide vegetable planting materials in the evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, Director Tornilla also reported that a total of 5,760 hectares of agri crops are vulnerable in case Mayon activity intensifies. Vulnerable areas for crops are 1,377 hectares of rice; 703 hectares of corn; and 626 hectares of vegetable areas. For coconut, 55,416 hectares are vulnerable with 29,255 farmers; and 1,944 hectares abaca of the 1,259 abaca farmers. For livestock, 9,822 heads of large ruminants (cattle and carabao) and 413 small ruminants (goats, sheep) are vulnerable; including 30,000 heads poultry, and 7,179 heads swine. Also vulnerable are 40 hectares freshwater aquaculture owned by 1,311 operators.
Tornilla added that the DA Regional Office has at present P35.5 Million buffer stocks composed of rice seeds, corn seeds, vegetable seeds, agri supplies, fertilizer, animal feed, drugs and biologics.
The DA Bicol has already established an evacuation site for animals at the Albay Breeding Station. There are also 30 LGU-identified animal pooling sites in the eight municipalities under the permanent 6 to 8-kilometer danger zones. In the pipeline are the conduct of Kadiwa ng Pangulo near the evacuation sites. Establishment of communal gardens or Gulayan sa Paaralan and conduct of livelihood training with starter kits at the evacuation centers. (Lovella P. Guarin DA RAFIS 5)