Monday, January 31, 2022

DA Mindanao Cluster converge relief efforts for agri partners in Surigao Norte and PDI

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional offices and its employees' association in Mindanao have stood by the Caraganons in these difficult times and initiated emergency relief actions for those affected in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands provinces.

The DA Mindanao Cluster, consisting of regional offices in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCKSARGEN, converged and mobilized the relief efforts in coordination with the DA-Caraga and its provincial agriculture offices.

Assistant secretary for Mindanao Arlan M. Mangelen, together with the Mindanao Cluster regional heads personally handed the PhP1.82 million worth of cash assistance and assorted relief goods comprising of rice, drinking water, vegetables, canned goods, and used clothing to Surigao del Norte provincial agriculturist Ruby Ann Lagahit. 

Mangelen was accompanied by DA-Davao Region regional technical director (RTD) Maria Lucernas and DA-SOCKSARGEN RTD Levi Fortuna. 

ASec. Mangelen said that the convergence of the Mindanao regional offices is part of the humanitarian assistance of the DA and its employees' association to help the agri-fishery partners in Caraga.

“Aside from the DA’s rehabilitation assistance for the sector, we also give importance to the welfare of our agriculture frontliners, our extension workers in the field who have been also affected by the onslaught of typhoon ‘Odette’,” said Asec. Mangelen.

The DA regional office in coordination with the local government units, national government offices, and non-government organizations are continuously conducting assessments on damage and losses and is working on providing the necessary support for the total rehabilitation of affected areas.

DA-Caraga regional executive director Ricardo M. Oñate, Jr. expressed his gratitude to the generosity and immediate actions of the regional directors headed by Asec. Mangelen.

“The support is overwhelming, the spirit of bayanihan is alive as the DA regional offices team up to respond to the needs of affected agri-fishery stakeholders in Caraga. Rest assured that the Department will pour its support to the affected communities by intensifying the implementation of the OneDA reform agenda strategies,” said Director Oñate.

On the other hand, DA-Caraga RTD for Operations Rebecca R. Atega said that interventions for the affected areas in Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur will also be distributed in the coming days.

"The 1,010 bags of quality rice seeds, 750 bags of corn seeds, and 8,000 assorted vegetable seeds are now positioned for distribution to the affected farmers in the region in coordination with the local government units. We are expecting additional quality seeds for rehabilitation from DA Mindanao Cluster regions,” said RTD Atega. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Dinagat Islands)