Marcos orders DA to aid typhoon-affected Central Luzon farmers, fisherfolk

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday instructed the Department of  Agriculture (DA) to immediately assist Central Luzon farmers and fishermen affected by Super Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon.

“So ang instruction ko sa DA will be to try to...  para habulin ‘yung season, planting season dahil para hindi naman  mawalan ng hanapbuhay ‘yung ating mga farmer,” Marcos said in a  situation briefing on the effects of Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon in Malolos, Bulacan

“Sa infra tingnan  na lang natin, we have to make the assessment medyo... dahil tumagal na, it’s been three days, almost four days. Puwede nang mag-assess both in  the agri side, the infra side, at saka lahat ng ibang pangangailangan  pa,” he added.

Marcos pointed out that farmers need aid to catch up to the cropping season this year.

Marcos gathered the governors of the provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, and  Pampanga, as he noted the shift from rescue to the relief phase before moving to the rehabilitation stage.

Marcos was confident that Central Luzon's livestock sector could still catch up.

The President urged the DA to provide farmers and fishermen with seedlings, fingerlings, and brood sows for recovery.

“We will work on that, that’s the priority ngayon,” he said.

Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando reported that damage to the province's agriculture and fisheries amounted to P103.7 million.

Meanwhile, 17 Bulacan LGUs were severely affected by the inclement weather.

Further, Meycauayan and Malolos, as well as eight municipalities - Marilao, Calumpit, Santa Maria, Obando, Hagonoy, Guiguinto, and  Balagtas - experienced severe flooding.

Fernando added that 13,021 families, or 48,000 individuals, were relocated to 318 evacuation centers in their province.

Fernando reported that 492,932 families were affected in the province as of Friday afternoon. Two casualties were recorded. — DVM, GMA Integrated News