CAPIZ – The Department of Agriculture Region 6 (DA-6) has launched a relief initiative to assist farmers in Capiz whose livelihoods were devastated by the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat and Tropical Storm “Crising.”
As part of its initial response, the DA-6 delivered 50 bags of certified inbred rice seeds to the municipality of Panay. The distribution aims to help local farmers recover from the nutritional and economic impacts of recent flooding and sustained heavy rainfall.
According to data from DA-6, over 200 hectares of agricultural land in Panay alone sustained significant damage, affecting at least 158 farmers. The prolonged weather disturbance has disrupted farming activities and poses a serious threat to food security in the region.
Other municipalities, including Tapaz, Dumarao, President Roxas, and Cuartero, were likewise affected by the intensified habagat, leading to widespread crop damage and increasing economic strain on farmers.
In response, DA-6 has committed continuous assistance for affected farmers, which includes additional seed distributions, technical guidance, and possible financial aid to support crop restoration and livelihood stabilization.
Meanwhile, the DA Central Office has instructed its regional agencies to prepare support for both farmers and fisherfolk impacted by “Crising” and habagat. Preliminary damage reports estimate agricultural losses in Western Visayas and MIMAROPA at around P53 million, affecting over 2,099 farmers cultivating more than 2,400 hectares of land./PN
