Iloilo, Mindoro most affected by El Niño

Iloilo and Oriental Mindoro have been hardest hit by drought due to El Nino, according to the Department of Agriculture DA).

- BELLA CARIASO

At the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing yesterday, DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said damage to agriculture due to El Niño in Iloilo has reached P127 million while losses incurred in Oriental Mindoro were placed at P56 million.

De Mesa said the DA, through its Agricultural Credit Policy Council, allocated P500 million for affected farmers and fisherfolk. They can avail themselves of a loan of P25,000 under the Survival and Recovery Loan program.

He said the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. allotted P1.8 billion in insurance claims for affected farmers.

"Farmers in affected areas can claim at least P20,000," De Mesa said.

He said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources allocated P500 million in fuel subsidy for fishermen.