The Department of Agriculture (DA) has set aside P7 million to help 1,561 farmers and fishermen who have been impacted by the Taal Volcano eruption.

“Meron pong 1,561 na apektado na po ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda dahil po sila ay evacuees din po sa bayan ng Agoncillo sa Batangas sa barangay po ng Banyaga at Bilibinwang,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa told President Rodrigo Duterte during the taped address to the nation aired Wednesday.

1,401 bags of inbred seeds, 500 kilos of glutinous corn, 250 kilograms of various vegetable seeds, and 1.5 million tilapia and fingerlings are among the help supplies.

“Kung sakali po na magkakaroon po ng destructive volcanic eruption, nakahanda po ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka ng mahigit sa P200 million out of the quick response fund po natin ngayong taon, Calendar Year 2022, para po magbigay po ng additional na mga ayuda sa atin pong apektadong magsasaka at mangingisda,” Mesa said.

(In the event of a destructive volcanic eruption, the Department of Agriculture has prepared more than P200 million quick response fund this year, the Calendar Year 2022, to provide additional assistance to those farmers and fisherman affected.)

The Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology reported Taal Volcano was declared on Alert Level 3 on Saturday morning after its “main crater released a short-lived phreatomagmatic explosion,” with plumes reaching as high as 1,500 meters. 

In a while, no damage reports on agriculture or fisheries in Taal-affected areas have been received by the DA.

Since its phreatomagmatic eruption on March 26, Taal Volcano has been on Alert Level 3, displacing 3,000 people in surrounding barangays. – WhatALife!

Source: (newsinfo.inquirer)

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