CEBU CITY, Cebu, Jan. 27 (PIA) -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Central Visayas has mobilized its personnel and resources to assist in the clearing and rehabilitation of areas and uplift the conditions of coconut farmers greatly affected by Typhoon "Odette"(International name: Rai).

According to its initial status report given during the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-7) meeting on Jan. 26, the PCA was able to release a total of P3,225,880 worth of indemnification to 745 affected coconut farmers in the region under the Accelerated Coconut Planting and Replanting Project (ACPRP) & Coconut Intercropping and Livestock Raising Project (CIP) – Participatory Coconut Planting Project (PCPP) approach.

The agency has released P725,555 to 145 coconut farmers in Bohol, P920,720 to 213 coconut farmers in Cebu, P1,561,395 to 369 coconut farmers in Negros Oriental, and P18,000 to 18 coconut farmers in Siquijor.

PCA said they are now planning to release the remaining incentives amounting to P19,809,750 intended for the 4,229 coconut farmers in affected areas of the region within the 1st quarter of 2022.

They will prioritize the distribution of seednuts and rehabilitation of 7,600 moderately and severely affected coconut palms in Region 7. 

PCA has also deployed a total of 44 PCA-owned chainsaws in different areas in the region to facilitate the debris management and clearing operations of damaged trees, while 10 chainsaws were deployed to Negros Oriental, 13 chainsaws to Cebu, and 21 chainsaws to Bohol.

The agency also requested a total of 50 chainsaws from PCA Region 8 to augment the existing units already deployed to the local government units. 

Other measures taken by the PCA include the initial turn over of 330 available coconut seedlings to the Provincial Government of Cebu.

They also allocated more than 3,000 coconut seedlings for Bohol and 2,000 coconut seedlings for Cebu province from the available 5,000 plus seedlings at Ubay seed garden in Bohol. 

They also delivered 7,850 coconuts seednuts to Negros Oriental and 8,600 coconut seednuts to Toledo City, Cebu under the Coconut Seedling Dispersal Project (CDSP) 2021.

PCA reported that the coconut industry in Central Visayas has suffered a P352-million production loss as Typhoon Odette damaged over five million trees while it has destroyed the livelihood of 115,833 coconut farmers in the region. (RGC/PIA7)