Albay gets P5-M from DA help for agri rehab

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Agriculture-Bicol regional office (DA-5) has distributed P5 million worth of various agricultural inputs and supplies through Rice and High-Value Crops Development Program and under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) to Albayano farmers.

DA-5 information officer, Lovella Guarin, said their DA intervention aims to help Albay farmers continue rehabilitating their agricultural production areas after the three consecutive typhoons hit the region in 2020.

Guarin said the P4-million worth of assistance distributed early this month consisted of a set of agricultural equipment-petrol driven brush cutter, portable sprayer with 30-meter hose and nozzle and mist blower.

She said it is the 4th tranche of intervention given by the DA-5 to Albay after it was one of the hard-hit provinces in Bicol. More than P120,000 worth of assorted vegetable seeds and budded calamansi seedlings were also given to the farmers.

Guarin said farmers belonging to five groups — Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation–the Albay Pili and Cacao Industry Association, Tumpa Farmers Association, Amtic Integrated Farmers Association, Polangui Federation of High-Value Crops Inc., and Camote Creations Farmers and Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative – also received the same set of equipment.

DA-5, she added, also distributed P900,000 worth of various agricultural inputs and supplies to 18 local government units in Albay.