VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – With over P469 million worth of damages and losses in agriculture due to Typhoon ‘Egay’ as of Tuesday, August 8, the provincial government released thousands of farm inputs to cater to the needs of farmers in Ilocos Sur.
 
Some 21,770 bags of hybrid corn seeds, 63,360 bags of urea fertilizer, 66,608 bottles of foliar fertilizers, 150,400 sachets of Ako'y Magsasakang Organiko or AMO fertilizers, 131,277 sachets of soil conditioners, 32,228 cacao grafted, 46,000 Robusta coffee seedlings, and 84,500 cassava cuttings were handed over to all the local government units (LGU) in the province, through their local chief executives and/or city/municipal agriculturist in a ceremonial distribution on Tuesday at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center here.

Bags of fertilizers, machineries and equipment that were handed over by the provincial government to farmers of the province affected by Super Typhoon Egay on Tuesday, August 8 in a ceremonial turn over held at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. (PIA)

Apart from this, identified farmers associations (FA) and/or cooperatives who requested machineries/equipment from the provincial government through a resolution will receive hand tractors, combined harvesters, two-stroke brush cutters, PE hoses, diesel engine water pumps, chemical hoses, four-wheel drive tractors, and two-in-one battery operated knapsack sprayer.
 
This is an annual program of the provincial government in response to the needs and requests of farmers, and FAs, especially after the adverse effect of Typhoon Egay on their crops and agricultural lands.
 
“This administration knows and understands the problems. This is our response to the increasing cost of farm inputs and materials, low productivity, climate change and other challenges in farming. Let us work hand-in-hand to plant seeds of hope for Ilocos Sur’s agricultural development,” Governor Jeremias Singson said during the ceremony.

On the other hand, Vice Governor Ryan Luis Singson assured their constant support by passing ordinances for the benefit of farmers in the province, hence, increasing local production, among others.
 
“Kung may maisa-suggest kayo na pwedeng gawan ng ordinansa para sa ikabubuti ng mga magsasaka, ilapit niyo sa amin sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan at siguradong maipapasa ito kaagad. Kayong mga magsasaka ang prayoridad ng provincial government, mula noon hanggang ngayon, nandito ang provincial government na sumusuporta sa  inyo,” Vice Governor Singson said.
 
Vigan City has more than P17-million worth of losses and damages in agriculture affecting over 260 hectares of rice, corn, and vegetable farmlands.
 
Two hectares of this were owned by Felipe Albiller, 62, FA president, in which all of his rice crops were totally damaged by the typhoon.
 
“Maganda ang mga butil na ibinigay ng gobyerno noon pero dahil sa bagyo, napunta lahat sa wala ang mga itinanim namin. Malaki ang epekto ng bagyo sa Vigan lalo sa may silangang bahagi nito at lahat ng tanim naming palay, nasalanta lahat,” Albiller said.
 
“Kaya naman sobra ang pasasalamat namin sa gobyerno dahil malaki ang maitutulong ng mga fertilizer at mga machineries na ito para sa unti-unting pagbangon naming mga magsasaka,” he added.
 
Rogelio Regua, 48, FA president from Santa Catalina town, also expressed his thanks for the continuous assistance they receive from the government.
 
“Tuloy-tuloy ang tulong ng provincial government sa aming mga magsasaka, may sakuna man o wala. Sa higit isang ektarya ng taniman namin na nabaha, magandang tulong ang mga ito para sa aming lahat,” he said. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)