P15M fund for rehabilitation of flood-hit rice farms in EV

ORMOC CITY , Philippines  — The national government has allocated P15 million, through the Department of Agriculture-Eastern Visayas, to help rice farmers in the region recover from the devastating effect of the recent flooding brought about by torrential rains.

DA regional executive director Leo Cañeda relayed the information in a meeting with provincial agriculturists from six provinces to finalize the guidelines in carrying out the rehabilitation scheme that would start next week.

The money would be itemized as follows: For Leyte province-P1,708,200; Southern Leyte-P1,431,720; Samar-P82,080; Eastern Samar-P4,600,800; and Northern Samar-P6,163,200.

The rehabilitation scheme, approved by Secretary Proceso Alcala, will entail the immediate distribution of certified seeds or good seeds to affected farmers on full subsidy at 40 kilograms per hectare.

The master listing of beneficiaries will be based on the official calamity or damage reports validated and submitted by the municipal or provincial agriculture office.