In response to the El Niño phenomenon, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has acted decisively to assist farmers in Occidental Mindoro. In order to improve agricultural output in areas where protracted drought circumstances have negatively impacted agricultural productivity, such as San Jose and Magsaysay, he has instructed the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to install new irrigation systems in these towns.
President Marcos Jr. revealed plans for a dam project at a meeting held at the municipal gymnasium of San Jose town. The project’s goal is to guarantee water availability even during times of low rainfall. This program aims to lessen the difficulties farmers encounter when dealing with scarcer water supplies.
The affected farmers also received aid from the government, which was led by the Department of Agriculture (DA). This assistance consists of P5.1 million in funding from the El Niño Indemnification Fund for 193 farmers, P5,000 help for 1,153 farmers under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program, P3,000 fuel subsidies for 393 farmers, and P77.5 million in loans for Survival and Recovery Aid.
In addition, the NIA made a substantial contribution to the initiative by giving two irrigators groups P7.38 million in operations and maintenance subsidies and another association a certificate of condonation and exemption worth P18.48 million. Three irrigators associations received P50 million in solar pump irrigation projects, and three other associations received P89.26 million in community irrigation projects.
Beneficiaries in Occidental Mindoro also received aid in different forms from cooperating organizations like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (Tesda).
In order to achieve the best possible agricultural output, President Marcos Jr. underlined the significance of effective irrigation systems. He also stressed the need for an adequate supply of water in addition to necessary inputs like fertilizer, pesticides, and farm equipment. He gave farmers assurances about continued efforts to supply irrigation using solar-powered pumps, especially in difficult upland areas.
President Marcos Jr. reassured the public about the country’s food security, especially with regard to rice availability, despite the difficulties caused by El Niño. He pointed out that El Niño only had a little impact on a small portion of Occidental Mindoro’s irrigated territory, emphasizing the government’s quick steps to install solar pumps and increase water availability to non-irrigated areas.
President Marcos Jr.’s efforts demonstrate a proactive approach to addressing agricultural difficulties and ensuring rural communities’ resilience in the face of natural disasters.
